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COMPUTER VIRUSES
Computer viruses are
computer programs (they are not related to human or animal viruses),
written by people usually trying to gain notoriety. It’s a case of "Hey,
look what I can do." What a virus does depends on what they were
programmed to do. Some affect how a computer prints, others will erase
files on a hard drive, while others will automatically send out email.
Viruses may go unnoticed, or may cause immediate havoc.
The majority of computer
viruses do not affect the Macintosh platform. The main exception is Microsoft
macro viruses, which affect Microsoft products on both platforms, predominantly
Word and Excel. By installing anti-virus software on your computer (Mac
or PC) you will be able to avoid most virus infections, or catch them
before they cause any damage.
To completely avoid
viruses:
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Do
not exchange disks (floppy, zip, flash drives, etc.) with other computers. |
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Do
not download files off the Internet. |
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Do
not open file attachments received in email, and avoid email from
those you don't know and unexpected and suspicious looking email. |
To minimize the
risk of viruses:
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Install
virus protection software, run weekly scans, and check all new files
for viruses. |
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Download
files only from sites which scan their files for viruses, or are making
their own software available (patches, upgrades, updates, etc.) |
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Only
open file attachments from those you know. |
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Do
not exchange disks with anyone other than trusted sources. |
If you are using a Microsoft product for
email, you will not want to open any emails with an attachment
if you don’t know the source.
ANTI-VIRUS
SOFTWARE
The
following companies sell the most commonly used anti-virus software.
VIRUS
AND INTERNET HOAXES
One of the biggest
email annoyances is virus warnings for viruses that don’t even exist.
"Good Times", "It Takes Guts to Say Jesus", and others,
which are emailed over and over by people who don’t know any better,
and propagate the hoax, worrying more people who don’t know any
better. Most new viruses that come out, which
are truly harmful, will get almost immediate attention on the news.
Almost anything else can be ignored.
In addition to virus
hoaxes, be aware of other Internet hoaxes. Free trips to Disney World
(courtesy of Bill Gates), free clothing from The Gap, pleas for money,
money donated to children dying of cancer for each time you forward
an email, and a new tax on all email, are all well known Internet hoaxes.
Some of these emails have been going around for years, and some even
started as chain letters sent by regular mail.
Web sites which
list Internet hoaxes are below:
Please ignore any
messages regarding these hoaxes, or take the time to direct the sender
to a site which lists and explains them. Forwarding messages about hoaxes
only continues their annoyance.
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