COMPUTER SECURITY Part 2 - USE ANTI-VIRUS SOFTWARE It seems that everyday we hear more about computer viruses. So what are they, exactly? Simply put, viruses are small programs that are intended to corrupt your data and/or programs in some way. Deleting files or programs, duplicating themselves or other files until your hard drive is full, causing other programs or your network to run very slow, or putting annoying messages on your screen. Many will open doors on your internet connection to allow malicious persons to take control of your computer, and send out more viruses. A common method of spreading viruses is that a virus will examine your email program's address book, and send copies of itself out to everyone in your address book. Sometimes they make it look like they are being sent out by someone on YOUR addess list, and that person gets the blame for "sending out viruses" when they have not. Some recent viruses have been estimated to have reached up to 60% of the worlds internet users within 48 hours of being released. The sad part is that it is entirely preventable. The vast majority of viruses are sent out as email attachments, usually by the viruses themselves from an infected system. The email itself is usually harmless, but the data file that is attached to it contains the virus. How do you get infected by this? ONLY by trying to open the file. Often we know better, but when your mom said "don't touch the stove, it's hot" did't you sometimes try anyway? So HOW Do I Stop It From Happening? Staying Virus free is easy. There are only two steps involved: 1 - Get an Antivirus program, use it, and keep it up to date. Anti-Virus programs are designed to seek out virus files and get rid of them. But like a doctor's prescription, it does not mean much if you don't use it! Make sure your antivirus software is doing it's job. All of today's AV software will all scan your incoming email's, and they will all let you schedule automatic scan's of your computer. Once a week at least. You also need to keep your AV program up to date. A doctor will give you a pill designed to stop whatever illness you have. If he does not know what you have, he cannot cure it. AV software work the same, it has to be able to recognize new viruses. Your AV software maker is continually updated their product so it will detect new viruses. You have to make sure you get these updates. All of the AV software makers have an feature to update the program from their website automatically. It's up to you to make sure this is enabled (it usually is by default). If your computer came from a major vendor like HP, Dell, Compaq or IBM, it may have Anti-Virus software included. Often these are trial versions only, and will STOP WORKING after a period of time unless you pay for them, or possibly stop getting automatic updates for themselves. Be Careful! 2 - If it's not from a friend, it's from an enemy! If you get an email from someone you do not know, and it has a file attached to it, DO NOT OPEN that file. Odds are that it is a virus. Delete it! If you get an email from someone you DO know, with an attachment, but it does not have a personal message like "Hi Mary, here's that picture you asked for...", delete it! It's a good bet that your friend has been infected, and their PC is emailing out copies of the virus to everyone they know, probably without their knowledge.