Arm Yourself Against Viruses               Back to the main page

Thursday, December 28, 2000                         

* Please be assured that I will never sell or share your email addresses with anyone else! I respect your privacy.

Merry Christmas Everyone!  I hope you all had a wonderful Christmas and I'm looking forward to 2001.  I have been late in sending this edition for many reasons, but mostly because I wanted to send you a very informative piece.  I think this newsletter will educate you about viruses and help you to protect yourselves in several ways so that you can feel more CONFIDENT about email and the Internet.     

I know I have briefly touched on viruses and hoaxes in the first edition of my newsletter.  I want to get more detailed and more serious about this subject.  Frankly, the viruses that are threatening our computers these days are much more serious, and the reality is that these viruses are going to become worse as time goes on. I'm not  trying to scare you, but I am trying to get your attention.  

Nearly anyone with a bit of programming knowledge can write a virus.  A virus is a piece of code that instructs your computer to do something (called the payload) that you don't want it to do.  The payload can be harmless, but annoying, or it can be as damaging as erasing your hard drive or installing a secondary program that allows someone else to take over your computer.  It contaminates your system by copying itself into programs, documents, or system files just like a flu virus works it's way into your body and attacks your organs.  Sounds nasty, doesn't it?!  Macro viruses--those written in macro programming language as in Microsoft Word-- account for 75 percent of all viruses in the wild because they are easy to write and spread around through email.  

There are two other types of malicious code called worms and Trojan horses.  They share some of the same characteristics as viruses.  The worm doesn't alter your files , but it copies itself into your address book and slithers through other computers from home to home, or through a network and clogs up your mailbox, or network.  Sharing isn't always a good thing! :)  A couple of examples of the worms are Kak and PrettyPark.  The Trojan horse doesn't copy itself, but it comes to your computer disguised as something benign like a screensaver or a "harmless" game you've downloaded from that "cute website".  Be careful what you download; scan it with your anti-viral software before you open it (right click on the file, and then in the menu choose "scan with your antivirus).  When a Trojan horse is loaded onto your machine, it can capture information from your system or allow someone else to commandeer your computer remotely.

I'm sure many of you remember the Melissa virus in 1999 and LoveLetter virus in 2000.  There's a new one, originated in November 2000, called the Navidad.exe virus.  It has characteristics of the worm as well, because it mails itself to all the people in your address book automatically when it infects your computer.  Spreading all the bad news!  This one is particularly nasty because it attacks all the EXE files on your computer, and this renders all you programs totally useless.  You cannot  get any program to work!  That can be a huge disaster on anyone's computer that is using important programs like QuickBooks, Quicken, business software, Genealogy programs, email addresses/ favorites, writing a book, doing your homework, and it goes on and on.  The fact is EVERYONE has information that they cannot afford to lose!  Think of all the work!

Notice how these viruses all appear to have really cute names (except for Kak)  that's a part of the plan.  And the idea that if you don't open email from someone you don't know isn't effective anymore, because of the way these viruses attach themselves to all the people in their address book.  Another method that some people have adopted to protect themselves is not to open attachments; that can help, but even that is becoming ineffective.  Many viruses are spreading by just opening an email letter.   

Now that you have some first hand knowledge and some of the gruesome details, let's get busy!  I'm sure many of you have heard the saying, "Your best defense is a good offense".  Well, that's what this edition is all about.  There are steps that you should take to insure your computer is protected against ATTACK.  I know this sounds like war, and it is.  It's more like Desert Storm, though, much more calculated.  

Here are the steps you need to take to ARM YOURSELF AGAINST VIRUSES:

1.  KILL VIRUSES BEFORE THEY INFECT YOUR SYSTEM!  Install an antivirus program and UPDATE IT OFTEN.  I can't tell you how many computers I work on that the antivirus software has never been updated.  You are eligible for at least a year of FREE UPDATING via the Internet after you install the initial program.  I prefer Norton Antivirus software because it is very thorough and very easy to update.  You just click on Live Update, and you will be reminded many times to do so.  It has Email protection!  You can even send a virus to Norton to dispose of, and they will communicate with you about the virus and possible antidotes and actions for infections.   Listen up, here!  10-12 viruses are created each day and sent out into the email world!  If you don't update the virus definitions at least once a week, your antivirus software cannot recognize the new viruses, and you WILL NOT BE PROTECTED.  Take this seriously, and save yourself a lot of grief. 

2.  Be cautious about macros. Safeguard your computer by enabling macro security options in your software programs, for example Microsoft Word:

Select "Tools", "Macro", "Security", and be sure to choose High or Medium for the security level (it may already be set there).

3.  Don't open attachments from people you don't know, and be cautious about attachments from people you do know.  Be especially wary of files that have a .vbs extension (example: loveletter.vbs)  If you are responsible for a Network of computers, be wary of .vbs and .exe extensions.  

4.  Be prepared for an attack!  Back up your important stuff!  Get in the habit of having that formatted floppy or zip disk, or cd-rom ready to save your information on your Quickbooks program, your Genealogy program, your email addresses and favorites that you worked so hard to accumulate.  Regular backups are essential in case your precautions fail and a virus does sneak in.  

Now, I hope that you will print this out and keep it by your computer for a while to remind you of these 4 things to do.  If you will, you'll be much better off than the average email/Internet user.  I'm not trying to scare you, just inform you.  The viruses of the future will probably get worse, but you will be able to manage your computer and your life if you prepare.  

Bottom line, stay prepared for the worst, and email with a smile.  :)   Don't let the bad guys take away your fun!  Just ARM YOURSELF AGAINST THEM!

Talk to you again soon.  If any of you need help with saving and backing up your stuff, email me with your questions, and I will guide you through it.  If you need help with updating your antivirus software, let me know.  I'll be happy to help you, and you will feel better knowing that you are actively fighting back!

Hope you all have a wonderful holidays!  Hope these have been helpful hints for all of you.

Remember that I will have all these monthly issues
of my newsletter available at my websites:
http://www.rockyreport.com

And

http://www.internetguideandmore.com

Thanks for reading! See you next month!

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