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centerchannel68 · Jan 4, 2007, 04:59 PM

Okay, so I have a word file that I'm trying to email someone, and Gmail claims it has a virus. How? I have created this purely on this computer (which seems fine) and a few computers at school, which have virus protection.

Is there a way to clean this file, so I can send it to someone? I tried resaving it as something else, and gmail says the same thing... that it has a virus, and must be removed.

Chuckit · Jan 4, 2007, 05:03 PM

Have you tried ClamXav?

centerchannel68 · Jan 4, 2007, 05:08 PM

No, not yet. Thanks though. Downloading now.

turtle777 · Jan 4, 2007, 05:23 PM

Put it in a DMG file if you send it to another Mac person.

(GMail will probably scan Zip files).

Or try a password protected Zip file.

-t

olePigeon · Jan 4, 2007, 07:11 PM

OS X doesn't have viruses, but Word macros piggyback on word files. Also, if you originally received the file from the a PC user, a virus might still be attached.

Just FYI, ClamXav doesn't actually do anything with a file. It'll scan it, tell you it has a virus, then does nothing. It doesn't actually clean files.

IceEnclosure · Jan 4, 2007, 07:31 PM

What's with all the crazy punctuation yo? Take it easy!?

Face Ache · Jan 4, 2007, 07:34 PM

Try trashing Word.

centerchannel68 · Jan 4, 2007, 07:43 PM

So is there anyway to 'clean' this file? IT's just a word document with a bunch pictures and stuff.

residentEvil · Jan 4, 2007, 08:22 PM

eliminate gmail first. try emailing it from another client see if that lets it go through.

centerchannel68 · Jan 4, 2007, 10:41 PM

So I can't clean this thing and then send it?

CharlesS · Jan 4, 2007, 11:16 PM

Warning: if it's a Word document, it could very well be infected with a Word macro virus, the one and only type of virus that can actually spread to Macs.

OwlBoy · Jan 5, 2007, 12:15 AM

Its kinda like some diseases. We can be a carrier and pass it along, but not get infected our self.

-Owl

CharlesS · Jan 5, 2007, 04:24 AM

Unless it's a Word macro virus, which are cross-platform and run on any machine that can run Word.

angelmb · Jan 5, 2007, 10:08 AM

Originally Posted by centerchannel68

So I can't clean this thing and then send it?

Look it this way: if you can not clean the file, just send it to any MacNN user able to clean it with a commercial app, then once the file is OK such user send it back to you… as long as the aforementioned Word file isn't private I think it is a feasible option.

Have you tried to save it as .pdf to send it anyway? --> Word 'File' menu --> 'Print…' --> 'PDF' pop-up button --> 'Save as PDF…'

osiris · Jan 5, 2007, 10:19 AM

Or copy the text and paste it into Text Edit, then re-export it as a Word doc.

Doofy · Jan 5, 2007, 10:29 AM

> 2 years without Word and lovin' it.

ghporter · Jan 5, 2007, 10:34 AM

It could easily be that there's some default macro in the document, and Gmail is seeing this as a virus. They're "conservative" about this sort of thing. As others have said, check this out by trying to mail the document through some other route. Yahoo uses a different virus checker, so that may be the best choice for a test.

Dakar² · Jan 5, 2007, 10:40 AM

Originally Posted by angelmb

This reminds me of Nelly Furtado.

turtle777 · Jan 5, 2007, 10:48 AM

Ok, Rob, there have been eleventy billion options mentioned that you can use.

Any luck ?

-t

centerchannel68 · Jan 5, 2007, 11:59 AM

No, I don't see where there would be a macro on this thing. I will try saving as a PDF, that sounds like a good option.

CharlesS · Jan 5, 2007, 02:07 PM

Originally Posted by ghporter

It could easily be that there's some default macro in the document, and Gmail is seeing this as a virus. They're "conservative" about this sort of thing. As others have said, check this out by trying to mail the document through some other route. Yahoo uses a different virus checker, so that may be the best choice for a test.

Dude, if the thing might have a virus, then bypassing GMail's virus checker is not what you want to do.

Scan the thing with ClamAV!

centerchannel68 · Jan 5, 2007, 02:40 PM

Clam whatever wouldn't even mount on my desktop. It said the format wasn't recognized. Universal app my ass.

turtle777 · Jan 5, 2007, 02:58 PM

Dude, make a freaking decission:

1) If you want the file editable, send it zipped with password.
2) If you just want to communicate the words, send a PDF.

What's the freakin' problem ?

-t

angelmb · Jan 5, 2007, 03:01 PM

Originally Posted by Dakar²

This reminds me of Nelly Furtado.

Being honest I had to do a search to know who Nelly is… anyway, green eyes from a green movie… she is obviously an actress. Hint: she is a long-time iPod user.

I like green, you know…

Dakar² · Jan 5, 2007, 03:03 PM

Unless its Eva Green I have no freakin' clue.

Thanks for the trivia, though.

centerchannel68 · Jan 5, 2007, 03:19 PM

Originally Posted by turtle777

Dude, make a freaking decission:

1) If you want the file editable, send it zipped with password.
2) If you just want to communicate the words, send a PDF.

What's the freakin' problem ?

-t

I did send it via PDF.

turtle777 · Jan 5, 2007, 03:33 PM

Oh hallelujah !

-t

UNTeMac · Jan 5, 2007, 03:49 PM

Originally Posted by centerchannel68

Clam whatever wouldn't even mount on my desktop. It said the format wasn't recognized. Universal app my ass.

Is this the file you downloaded? http://www.unmetered.org.uk/clamXav/ClamXav_1.0.6.dmg

If not, then you probably got the command line version. ClamXav is the GUI executable.

residentEvil · Jan 5, 2007, 03:51 PM

Originally Posted by centerchannel68

So I can't clean this thing and then send it?

i was just pointing out a way to get the file sent; not fix the root problem. thought maybe it was something you wanted someone else to have in a timely manner.

angelmb · Jan 5, 2007, 04:07 PM

Originally Posted by Dakar²

Unless its Eva Green I have no freakin' clue.

Thanks for the trivia, though.

Jennifer Connelly and the still is from Hulk

Doofy · Jan 5, 2007, 04:11 PM

Originally Posted by angelmb

Jennifer Connelly

Nice boobies.

Dakar² · Jan 5, 2007, 09:37 PM

Originally Posted by angelmb

Jennifer Connelly and the still is from Hulk

Ah. Good hint, and a nice choice.

Blasphemy · Jan 5, 2007, 10:35 PM

Originally Posted by Doofy

Nice boobies.

Indeed

centerchannel68 · Jan 5, 2007, 10:59 PM

Okay, so that clam program found viruses. But then.. it does nothing. Is there a way to clean the files?

CharlesS · Jan 6, 2007, 12:45 AM

I think this should work:

1. Go to Word and make sure Macro Virus Protection is turned on in the preferences.

2. Open the document, and make sure not to let the macro run when asked.

3. Go to Tools -> Macro -> Macros...

4. Set it to show the macros in the active document.

5. Delete all the macros you see.

6. Save, and scan the file again with Clam to make sure the viruses are gone.

7. Scan the rest of your Word files as well as the folder containing all the MS Office applications, templates, etc. to make sure the virus didn't infect the rest of Word and its files.