On Mon, 5 Mar 2001, Paul Huck wrote to MG TABC List and Mark McCombs:
> Chip is a expert in this area, and provides protection for a living.
No, I run a small (8500 customers) Internet service for a living. In the
course of working with my customers I get a lot of virus questions, but
I'm not a virus expert nor do I program or sell antivirus software.
> Perhaps Chip would explain how to keep safe from viruses ?
Okay, but only if we can end this thread soon and get back on topic.
The only 100% sure way is to turn off your computer and pack it away in
the attic. Obviously that's not a practical solution for most of us, so
here's what I tell my customers:
Protecting against viruses transmitted by e-mail is 99% common sense. Be
very wary of any message containing a file attachment. If you are not
expecting the attachment, or if it is from someone you don't know, delete
it. Do not open it!
If your mail program has an option to open file attachments automatically,
make sure that option is turned off. Some versions of Outlook Express,
for example, came out of the box with that option turned on by default.
Hello Microsoft! That wasn't too bright!
If You don't have an anti-virus program on your PC, get one. This is very
important for any Internet-connected computer. The two most popular are
Norton Antivirus and McAfee VirusScan, but there are others.
If you already have anti-virus software installed, make sure its "virus
description database" is up to date. The virus description database is
what tells the anti-virus program what to look for when it scans for
viruses, and how to eradicate any that it finds. New PC viruses are
discovered "in the wild" almost every day, so anti-virus software
publishers periodically issue updated versions of their databases. Most
anti-virus programs have a built-in "update" function of some kind. Use
it! Your anti-virus program cannot guard against recent viruses if it is
using an outdated virus description database! If you don't know how to
make your anti-virus program do an update, see the manual, or go to the
publisher's Web site, or contact the publisher's Help Desk for assistance.
In your Internet Explorer favorites list or your Netscape bookmarks list,
be sure to include the following sites:
F-Secure:
http://www.F-Secure.com/virus-info/
McAffee:
http://vil.mcafee.com/
Symantec:
http://www.symantec.com/avcenter/
Use them to look up definitive information about viruses and virus hoaxes.
--
Chip Old (Francis E. Old) E-Mail:
fold@bcpl.net
Manager, BCPL Network Services Voice: 410-887-6180
Manager, BCPL.NET Internet Services FAX: 410-887-2091
320 York Road
Towson, Maryland 21204 U.S.A.