Stop Viruses and Worms

A virus is a computer program that propagates itself by modifying or exploiting other programs to copy it to other files or systems. They usually move from computer to computer by attaching themselves to files or to disks. The most common method of infection is through e-mail attachments or through files downloaded from the Internet, although viruses can also be transferred via floppy disk or Internet Relay Chat (IRC) communications. Many viruses delete or corrupt a selection of files or the whole file system on computers infected with them. Recently, there has been in increase in the number of network worms detected on the Internet. Worms are like viruses but use network vulnerabilities rather than user actions to propagate themselves from system to system.

To protect yourself:

• DO NOT open any e-mail attachments or files if you're unsure or suspicious about who sent them

• DO NOT open any e-mail attachments or files unless you know what they are, even if you know the sender. Some viruses send themselves automatically to the e-mail addresses in infected users' address books

• BE VERY CAREFUL about downloading files from the Internet. If you're unsure about the source - don't do it

• If you do not have anti-virus software, it is HIGHLY RECOMMENDED that you obtain and install anti-virus software on your computer and set it to check all files as they come into your computer

• Keep the anti-virus software actively monitoring your computer at all times

• UPDATE your anti-virus software, every two weeks at a minimum, according to instructions from the vendor. It's important to do this because the vendor's master virus databases are frequently updated to include the unique "signatures" of new viruses.

• Check the hard drive at least every month for viruses that were not detected by the anti-virus monitor.

• Be aware of hoax viruses. They have the same nuisance effect as many of the viruses they claim to be warning about. For example, they are often a warning message about a virus, telling you to alert everyone you know and citing an authoritative source as issuing the warning.