Ask Sam: How to Avoid Computer Viruses

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Ask Sam: How to Avoid Computer Viruses

There has been an increase in computer viruses lately. A few simple steps, though, can save you from the hassle of fixing your computer’s operating system and the chagrin of having to tell all your friends you might have accidentally infected their system.

A computer virus is a program that is attached to an e-mail (usually…it can also be transmitted to your computer from some infected web pages). When you get the virus and it runs on your computer, it can do great harm to your computer (erasing files that you need) or it can just do slight damage. Usually, however, it immediately attempts to spread itself to people whose addresses are in your e-mail address book, so it can perpetuate itself (this is why it’s called a ‘virus’).

Generally, only Microsoft Outlook and Outlook Express are vulnerable to viruses, and only on Windows operating systems. If you use a Mac, or use Netscape Messenger, Eudora, or another program to read your e-mail, then you are at lower risk to “catch” these viruses. Partly, that’s because most hackers exploit opportunities within the Microsoft products. Also, it’s because they are the most popular, so the virus can spread faster that way. (Know why the Honda Accord is the most stolen car in America? Because it’s the most popular car. Same theory.)

If you’re using Outlook or Outlook Express, you don’t always have to open the file that’s attached to the e-mail in order to catch the virus. Sometimes just opening the e-mail message, or letting it open in your “preview” window, is enough to expose you to the virus.

If you still want to use Outlook or Outlook Express on a Windows machine (as I do) here are a few ways to avoid getting a virus.

Install -- and keep current -- a major anti-virus software program: I use Norton Antivirus which I bought and downloaded from www.symantec.com. Norton Antivirus 2003 costs $49.95 online. I got Norton Systemworks for $69.95, since it has a variety of extra security and utility programs besides antivirus. You can also get McAfee’s VirusScan at www.mcafee.com for $34.95. Either of these product families are great.
Keep your antivirus software current: Once you buy the software, you have to keep downloading the most current virus “definitions.” As new viruses are found, the filters to keep blocking new viruses have to be updated. Generally, on a regular schedule, your software “calls home” to the site where you downloaded it and downloads information on new viruses, sometimes daily, without you even noticing it.
If you can’t afford this kind of software, then be VERY careful of opening files attached to e-mails, even from friends. Many viruses send e-mails to people in the address book of the infected computer. For example, if your grandson, Mark, has a virus on his computer and your address is in his system the virus will create a message to you, from him, with the virus embedded in it or attached to it. So if you get an attachment from him that you aren’t expecting, DO NOT open it. Instead, reply and ask if this is an attachment that he meant to send you.
Don’t use the preview option in Outlook or Outlook express. If you don’t, then you have the opportunity to scan your messages before you open any. If you see a message with an odd subject line, DO NOT open the message. Again, instead, reply and ask if this is a message that the sender meant to send you.

See the related article on virus hoaxes.

(If I can help you make your online experience more pleasant, or at least less painful, I’d be glad to try. Chances are, if you’ve got a question, hundreds of other TSCL supporters do, too! Write to me at Sam@TSCL.org.)

September 2003