Although I know most people posting at Mudcat are luddites when it comes to this stuff (hence the disappearance and reappearance of Mudcat looking like magic, and Max the magician to them), I think it is all the more important for websites like this to provide this information to it's users regularly. A permanent link at the top of the page to a message explaining this in a nutwouldn't hurt at all

As I recall, it wasn't all that long ago that Clinton, I think, complained of the contamination here at Mudcat, though I can't recall now if he was complaining about malware or viruses via the PMs? Can't remember.

Anyone who believes these days that you only have to worry about this stuff if you surf porn and other "bad" sites is seriously deluded.

This stuff is the basics of computer operation these days. If you don't know how to do these things, you shouldn't be allowed on the damn internet! Not really, but one's own ignorant bliss can cause others a lot of grief. It would be good if people got up to speed on some of this stuff if for no other reason than they want to keep Mudcat online. The nasty stuff can wipe out a computer (like the Mudcat servers!) in no time flat.