h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

I suspect that you received the first version to sub-edit. While the article was sitting around in submitted status on my homepage, however, I discovered something about macro viruses that I had written that was in error, and updated the article. However, because the subbed version is the first version, that error is still being propagated. Is there a way we can fix this?

Errr -- That is a good question. It shows a real shortcoming with the system here that all the editors are banding together to address. For now, why don't you email me the new version and I will attend to it. Try to keep it as a txt file because this system is pretty flaky! Thanks...

Ummm... that's the problem. While it is sitting there as edited, I can't access the original, which is where it is stored. I'm not in the habit of saving my H2G2 articles on my computer... I write them in Notepad, upload, and then close Notepad without saving. And when I edit an article, I do it online. I would imagine the PTB have a way to access the newer version, since it'll show up on my homepage again eventually, but I currently do not.

The flaw is quite a dramatic one, too. In this version that is showing now, I say that macro viruses can't hurt you too badly. Since then, however, I have discovered that macros in Office are written in Visual Basic... which means that they can do all the damage a vbs can do by itself. Melissa and the Killer Resume bug were both vbs scripts that were propagated through word documents. It's a change that occured with Office 97 that I wasn't aware of.

Hmmm... Well I had already passed the article to be accepted (only about 20% of the articles that get submitted actually make it.) Once the thing comes out, we can make a quick addition to it.

You can't flag the Towers down with an email, asking them to check into it, and compare the edited version with my latest edition before it gets accepted? I'd hate to see such an error appear on the homepage, for two reasons:

1) Those who know better will flame me.

2) Those who don't will be misinformed and may make an error in their pc security because of it.

Okay... I don't know if it's really that dire, but I will email the head of h2g2 and get her to look into it.

Hi Colonel Sellers,

We're happy to incorporate the changes. I'll email you the latest version, and we can go from there.

Anna

Article revised and sent. Thanks for your support.