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Protect Your Computer Investment with These Anti-Virus ‘Preventive-Health’ Measures

By Richard A. Sherman

 computer virus is a nasty bit of programming that can do a variety of dastardly deeds, ranging from the mildly annoying to the catastrophic. How does destruction of all the data on your system's hard drive sound? Talk about having a bad day! The thought of getting a virus may leave you week in the knees (and it should), but avoiding them is simpler than avoiding the common cold. Here are some “preventive-health” measures to take:

Dangerous Attachments . . .

          The most common method of contracting a virus is by e-mail attachment, though you can also receive one by downloading files from Web sites. A virus-carrying e-mail will attempt to trick you into opening its infected attachment. It's your responsibility to protect yourself from this tricker-e. The key is to maintain a consistent virus defense. That means checking every attachment for viruses before opening it—yes, even attachments you receive from a beloved family member, your best friend, or the office computer whiz. Nice people inadvertently transmit viruses, too. Some viruses hijack e-mail address books, so the name that appears in the "From" field may not be the person who sent you the file.

          The Klez worm, for example, ferrets out and uses e-mail addresses located on infected computers and then sends itself to those e-mail addresses, infecting other computers in the process. So virus-check any—and I do mean any—file not received directly from a reputable, name-brand vendor. If you're downloading a file from Microsoft (www.microsoft.com), you can be sure that the file is safe and virus-free. If you download a file from Swoop Doggie Downloads "Files Gone Wild" Web site, check it for viruses. On second thought, check it twice. You never know where Swoop Doggie's files have been.  

          Be especially suspicious of any file attachment that isn't referenced in the body of the e-mail to which it is attached. Before opening it, reply to the sender and ask, "Did you intend to send me a file with your e-mail? If so, what is it?” If you're satisfied with the explanation and you’re still interested in opening the attachment, then check it for viruses. If you decide not to open it, just delete it. I have yet to meet a file attachment that I couldn't live without, so don't feel obligated to view a file just because Aunt Millie or Uncle Ernie sends it to you. Curiosity isn't always good for cats or computer users.

. . . And How to Avoid Them

          How do you check attachments for viruses—or is it virrii? If you haven’t already done so, install an antivirus program immediately—sooner, if possible. After installation, check your entire hard drive. Now you know your system is squeaky clean. From this point forward, check all incoming and outgoing e-mail, as well as any programs prior to installation.

          Keep your antivirus program current and updated. Hundreds of new strains of viruses are discovered each month, but your virus-checking software can only protect you against viruses that it is programmed to detect. If you have a full-time, high-speed cable or DSL connection to the Internet, most virus-checking programs will automatically update themselves. If you have dial-up access and your virus-checking software has an automatic updating feature, it will spring to life when you restart your computer. If it doesn’t have this feature, it most likely will send an e-mail notifying you when it’s time to update. Clicking a link in the e-mail will transport you to the update location on the vendor's Web site, where you can download an updated virus definitions file.  If you're not sure how to update your virus definitions, visit your antivirus software Web site and follow the instructions for your specific program.

          My favorite antivirus software is Norton AntiVirus 2003, available at  www.symantec.com/nav/nav_9xnt. Other popular programs include: AVG (www.grisoft.com), McAfee (www.mcafee.com), Panda (www.pandasoftware.com), Sophos (www.sophos.com), and TrendMicro (www.trendmicro.com).

If A Virus Is Detected

          After you regain consciousness, you’ll be able to use your virus-checking program to rid yourself of the infectious intruder. Most antivirus programs enable you to eliminate viruses as soon as they’re detected. Some programs pose the question, "Would you like to remove the detected virus?" I'm going out on a limb here, but I'd suggest "Yes" as the appropriate answer. If you're not sure what to do, however, visit the Web site of your virus-checking program for specific removal instructions for any virus identified.

A Poor Outlook for Outlook Express

          Because many e-mail-borne viruses target Outlook Express, an easy way to reduce your exposure is to use another e-mail program.  My e-mail program of choice is Eudora (www.Eudora.com). Using another e-mail program won't completely eliminate the risk of being victimized, but you'll at least avoid the many viruses that attack OE's vulnerabilities, especially those that use the program as a springboard for infecting others. 

Know Thine Enemy

            When discussing viruses, the terminology can be a bit confusing. Let's quickly review:  :  : 

·         A worm is not technically a virus, though it's close enough. No need to pick nits when it comes to things like this. A worm, by definition, is a bit of computer nastiness that can replicate itself within a computer network and attach itself to other programs, such as outgoing e-mail messages or address books, and gobble its way through your computer's data.

·         A virus can also replicate itself, but it cannot attach itself to other programs.

·         A Trojan horse is a type of computer virus that masquerades as legitimate software, but instead contains harmful or destructive programming code.

A good anti-virus program that’s constantly updated will protect you from all of the above. Once you’re armed with that and practice the other strategies discussed above, no matter what kind of evil lurks, your chances of becoming a victim will be virtually vanquished.

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Richard A. Sherman, a k a Mr. Modem, is a nationally syndicated columnist, whose “Ask Mr. Modem!” column appears in more than 60 publications throughout the U.S. and in Canada. As publisher of the popular “Ask Mr. Modem” weekly newsletter, he provides easy-to-understand, non-technical, computer- and Internet-related answers to questions received from subscribers worldwide. He is the author of eight books, including “Mr. Modem’s Internet Guide for Seniors” (Sybex) and “Ask Mr. Modem,” a collection of hundreds of frequently asked computer and Internet questions received from readers. Richard is a contributing editor to TechTV and host of the daily "Mr. Modem Minute" television segment produced by FOX-TV.

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Computer Virus Myths: http://vmyths.com

McAfee Virus Information Library: http://vil.nai.com/villib/

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Symantec’s Anti-Virus Research Center: www.Symantec.com/

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