| There are some simple steps you must take to | | | | |
| avoid becoming a victim of computer viruses | | | | Routine MaintenanceMake regular back ups of |
| and also stop from spreading viruses to | | | | important dataMake it a habit to back up all |
| others. Here are some things that you can and | | | | of your most important files at least once a |
| should do.Email Issues to watchNever open an | | | | month. Store the back up discs in a safe |
| E-mail with an attachment you were not | | | | place.Clean any virus/worm/trojan off your |
| expecting.The latest batch of virus programs | | | | computerUsing your antivirus software, |
| are often spread by E-mail. Even if your | | | | perform a full system scan of your PC, |
| anti-virus program does not warn you about | | | | hopefully it will detect and remove the |
| the attached file and even if the eMail | | | | virus. If a virus was detected, restart your |
| appears to come from someone you know, do not | | | | computer and run the full scan again. |
| open it if you were not expecting it, and if | | | | Sometime the virus will keep reappearing, due |
| you were expecting it, only open it AFTER | | | | to the evolving nature of viruses. Symantec |
| scanning it with your up-to-date virus | | | | is particularly fast at providing removal |
| software.Scan ALL incoming email attachments | | | | tools should you ever get a virus or worm |
| (regardless of who sent it).Be sure to run | | | | infesting your computer.What is a removal |
| each attachment you plan to open through the | | | | tool? Well simply put it is a simple |
| anti-virus check. Do this even if you | | | | software that will scan your computer for |
| recognize and trust the sender; malicious | | | | infections, and then remove them from your |
| code, like Trojan horses, can slip into your | | | | machine. You most often need this if your |
| system by appearing to be from a friendly | | | | machine got infected BEFORE you installed |
| source. | | | | antivirus software. |
| | | | |
| Turn off the 'automatic preview' in your | | | | Top Considerations for PC ProtectionAnd the |
| email program.Automatically previewing an | | | | final and most important two things to do to |
| email message has the exact same effect as | | | | keep your computer clean and make sure it |
| opening and reading an email. My of the | | | | does not spread viruses to other |
| newest internet worms, trojans, and viruses | | | | computers...Install a FirewallIf you use a |
| simply need to have an email message read in | | | | broadband/high-speed method to access the |
| order for them to be activated. Turning off | | | | internet, you need to get a firewall. A |
| the preview feature allows you to scan any | | | | firewall is a program that defends your |
| email BEFORE you actually read it. | | | | computer from hackers who attempt to gain |
| | | | direct access to your computer over the |
| Disk Issues to watchDon't boot from a floppy | | | | Internet. There is a very good firewall |
| disk.Floppies are one of the most common ways | | | | program called ZoneAlarm that will do the |
| viruses are transmitted. If you are using a | | | | trick if you use Windows.Install and use a |
| floppy while working on your computer, remove | | | | high-quality anti-virus program.This is the |
| it when you shut the machine off or the | | | | key to protecting your computer. Buy one of |
| computer will automatically try to boot from | | | | the major anti-virus programs - Norton |
| the floppy, perhaps launching any viruses on | | | | Anti-Virus, PC-Cillin, or McAfee Anti-Virus. |
| the disk.Web Based IssuesKeep your web | | | | The primary benefit of the commercial |
| browser set to its highest security level.Its | | | | packages is the frequency and ease of |
| a pain to get the warning messages on every | | | | updating the virus definition files that |
| other web page you visit, but its the best | | | | these programs use to detect viruses. With |
| way to protect yourself - especially if you | | | | new viruses popping up all the time, unless |
| use Microsoft Internet Explorer and | | | | your protection software is kept updated, you |
| Outlook.Don't download programs from the | | | | start to become ever more vulnerable to |
| Web.Unreliable sources such as Internet | | | | infection.Get immediate protection.Configure |
| newsgroups or Web sites that you haven't | | | | your anti-virus software to launch |
| heard of may be willing providers of viruses | | | | automatically on start-up and run at all |
| for your computer. Avoid downloading files | | | | times. This will provide you back-up |
| you can't be sure are safe. This includes | | | | protection in case you forget to scan an |
| freeware, screensavers, games, and any other | | | | attachment, or decide not to. And in case you |
| executable program - any files with an ".exe" | | | | forget to load up your anti-virus software, |
| or ".com" extension, such as "coolgame.exe." | | | | configuring it to start by itself will ensure |
| Check to see if the site has anti-virus | | | | you get immediate protection anyway. The top |
| software running on their side. If you do | | | | antivirus software programs all do this (but |
| have to download from the Internet, be sure | | | | only if you have one installed on your |
| to scan each program before running it. Save | | | | computer). You do have current antivirus |
| all downloads to one folder, then run virus | | | | software installed right?Learn how to remove |
| checks on everything in the folder before | | | | blackworm virus and how to easily block |
| using it. Regardless of where you download | | | | trojan horses, spyware, computer viruses, and |
| from, ALWAYS scan downloaded software. | | | | other malicious software in the future. |