Basic Concept BBS - Snap-1 37 Cain Avenue, Hamilton, Oh. 45011 (513)856-9101(HST) 856-9704 (12/2400) January 10, 1993 TO: Systems Operators of Bulletin Board Systems RE: Introduction First off we would like to thank you for your time in reviewing this text file, more importantly for being involved with Data Communications as an art. As we both know, there are many types of BBS's to connect with all over the globe. It is considered an 'art' to maintain and operate a decent and 'quality' BBS. Not to mention the headaches and repair bills. In 1990 and later parts of 1991 we ran a somewhat decent BBS. At least we did receive a lot of callers for whatever their reasons. Towards the very end of '91 our BBS was uploaded a virus. To this day we are unable to say precisely what virus it was, but none the less it destroyed our system while doing a second backup because the original failed. Not only did this virus cause a MAJOR loss of what we considered 'valued data' but it also managed to crash a faithful hard drive. We also believe, but cannot verify that it was the cause for our C.P.U. becoming mysteriously scrambled. In 1992 we decided that we can't let some 'jerk' keep us from doing what we enjoyed as a hobby. So we placed another system online which is now operated at the Basic Concept. In about August of 92' after trying to protect ourselves as completely as possible from another viri attack (if that's ever 100% possible??) we decided to make an attempt to join Sysops together from all sorts of BBS software in the ongoing struggle to help prevent viruses. To date, about six months later we have begun to make a somewhat noticeable dent in the BBS community. By this we mean that member boards are popping up in various parts of the country. Why? that is a good question. Anyone that operates a BBS wants to have a decent board that they can offer to the callers. Games, Files, Messages and the like are a popular diversion for callers of all age groups. Our SNAP members range from locally in Ohio to Chicago and Florida and we are hopeful to soon be in Canada in the near future. Each month SNAP produces a newsletter called the Snaplink. In these publication we talk about new important things for SNAP that are coming, issues that require a majority vote. Also important announcements from our SNAP member Sysops. The newsletter is hand mailed to our members from a SNAP dedicated Sysop named JEFF KERRY located in MS. Jeff organizes, prints and mails the monthly letter to each SNAP member. Talk about dedication! Thanks Jeff! From time to time SNAP produces various text articles that are geared towards informing people on how to protect against viral attacks and also what new viri are presently lurking around. That information is contained in the monthly Virus Watch which is re-printed in the newsletter and also available for download in 'raw' form. Now we talk about memberships. Actually there are no membership fees any longer. We do ask that you donate a minimum of $5 in your BBS's name into our SNAPFUND which benefits the Jerry Lewis Telethon so that as Sysops, we can do our part in helping "Jerry's Kid's". In the beginning of January, after a lot of consideration and planing we are now pleased to be offering our own national net-mail network called 'SnapNet'. We believe that in the near future SnapNet will become popular due to the anticipated intense virus conferences. As a SNAP member you are telling your callers that in the best possible effort you are trying to do your part in protecting computers everywhere. More so you are letting them know that you strive to promote quality communications in all aspects of your BBS. We all know that it is impossible to absolutely 100% guarantee anyone, including ourselves, that there are no infected or free-running viri on our BBS's, disks or anywhere in the system. We merely tell them that as 'Professional Sysops' we do everything in our power to guard against such a data intrusion. We encourage all Sysops to join with us in our battle to provide quality communications. But if for some reason you can't join with us please, at least protect yourself and your valuable data from possible destruction by learning all you can about virus prevention. Thank you for your time. We hope to soon have you join our team and make a bigger dent in viruses. For more information please feel free to contact us via mail or data. If you are interested in joining with us, enclosed in the 'INTRO93.ZIP' is an application for convenience 'SnapApp. '.