| With the number of small, home-based businesses at | | | | function of viruses like this is to weaken network |
| present, computers and the internet are fast | | | | security in order for the virus writer to infiltrate the |
| establishing themselves as essential tools for business | | | | system. |
| management. But the active use of computers in | | | | Viruses can also infiltrate systems by email |
| business as means of banking and other financial | | | | attachments. This happens when a virus writer |
| transactions has attracted unscrupulous individuals. | | | | programs a virus and sends it to people disguised as a |
| These individuals come up with programs and viruses | | | | harmless email or attachment. The criminal usually |
| that are threats to network security in hopes of | | | | attaches a funny picture or story in the email to entice |
| intercepting important files from home computers. The | | | | recipients to open it. The recipient, thinking that the |
| Computer Emergency Response Team (CERT) at | | | | message is harmless and funny, sends it to other |
| Carnegie Mellon University says that there are several | | | | people. The virus spreads and disables network |
| ways how internet criminals threaten network security | | | | security with minimum effort from the writer. Email |
| through emails. These methods seem harmless and | | | | viruses usually come as attachments with hidden or |
| are virtually undetectable until it is too late. | | | | concealed file extensions. Most victims open |
| These threats include: email spoofing and email viruses. | | | | attachments thinking that these are harmless text |
| All these are classified as intentional computer misuses | | | | documents or images taking note only of the ".txt" or |
| but are unwittingly spread by people who are not | | | | ".jpg" in the filename. CERT advises that the first file |
| aware of their possible effects on network security. | | | | extensions are not important in an attachment or file. |
| CERT explains that the writers of the viruses and | | | | The important attachment is the last because it |
| malicious programs usually exploit the ignorance of | | | | indicates how the attachment functions. Extensions like |
| most computer users to spread their viruses. | | | | ".exe" or ".vbs" means that the attachment will run as a |
| Email spoofing happens when emails display sources | | | | program once the recipient opens it. |
| other than the original source. The virus writer or the | | | | There are no foolproof ways on how to prevent the |
| original source manipulates the virus program to make | | | | spread of malicious programs and viruses. To maintain |
| it appear that the source written on the "From" box is | | | | network security, CERT recommends ignoring strange |
| the actual sender of the message. Most cases involve | | | | emails even if these are sent by an authority. Verify |
| "messages" from network system administrators | | | | the messages' origin by calling the agency that "sent" |
| asking the users to modify and send them new | | | | them. For best protection, CERT advises email users |
| passwords or other important information. Others | | | | to avoid downloading and saving attachments in their |
| report receiving strange emails from banks or | | | | computers unless they have verified its source. |
| telephone companies. The recipient opens the email, | | | | Installing firewalls and other anti-virus software also |
| thinking that it is an urgent reminder. The virus then | | | | strengthens network security. |
| starts spreading in the computer system. The usual | | | | |