Computer viruses are deadly. They often spread without apparent contact and can be a nuisance, or even worse, fatal to the team. People who create these viruses, estimated at 10-15 new per day, are the electronic version of terrorists. Its aim is to cause chaos and destruction of as many people as possible by disabling, stealing, damaging or destroying computer and information resources. They often have no specific objective in mind, so no one is safe. If you access the Internet, share files or your computer with other people or cargo from floppy disks, CDs or DVDs on your computer, you are vulnerable to viruses.
Fortunately, there are good guys working just as hard as the hackers to develop cures for viruses as quickly as they send them into cyberspace. And there are many things you can do to keep your computer catch a virus in the first place.
Defining Viruses:
A virus is a small program that can copy and spread itself from one computer to another, with or without the help of the user. However, viruses typically do more than just be fruitful and multiply, which is bad enough in itself, because the hogs system resources. Anything else viruses are programmed to do, show annoying messages to destroying files, is called their payload. Often, they can not deliver their payload until an unsuspecting user does something to make the virus execute its programmed function. This could be as simple as clicking on an innocent looking file attachment with the. Exe (executable) extension.
The capture of a virus:
Most viruses spread through email attachments because it is the easiest way to do it. Although Macintosh, Unix, Linux systems and catch viruses, hackers are particularly interested in the exploitation of security weaknesses in anything Microsoft, particularly Microsoft Outlook and Outlook Express. Due to the popularity of this software, hackers get maximum blow to his ball, and probably some satisfaction from Microsoft, which continually reminding means that being big is not perfect.
Solution 1: Anti-virus software
Your first line of defense is to install anti-virus software. To be safe, also install firewall software, which is now included in some anti-virus packages. This software can scan all your drives for viruses and neutralize them. Here are some features to consider when evaluating anti-virus software.
- Compatibility with the operating system – Make sure the software works with your system, especially if you are using an old operating system like Windows 98.
- Firewall software – If it is not included, find out if available. If you must buy from another supplier.
- Automatic background protection – This means that your software constantly scan behind the scenes for infections and neutralize them as they appear. This provides peace of mind.
- Automatic, frequent updates – Because new viruses appear every day, you’ll want regular updates. It’s even better if they occur automatically when online. If automatic updating is not included, you’ll have to check with the provider’s website and download updates of itself. This is of vital importance because you will not be protected from new viruses if your software is not updated.
- Disaster recovery – Software with a recovery utility that will help your system back to normal after a virus attack is always good to have.
- ICSA certification – The Security Associatioin has rules for the detection rate of anti-virus software. Make sure your software has the ICSA certification.
- Technical support – It is a good idea to choose a package that offers technical support, either online or through a toll-free number. If you’re ever felled by a virus, you may need. Some anti-virus software vendors are Symantec Corporation (Norton AntiVirus), McAfee Corporation (McAfee VirusScan), Trend Micro Inc. (PC-cillin) and Zone Labs Inc. (Zone Alarm Suite).
Solution 2: The analysis of virus
If you receive an attachment that is open to juicy dying, save it on your Windows desktop and run your anti-virus software on it first. To do this, click once gently on the file to your desktop … not really open … then right click and choose Scan with (Name of anti-virus software) to activate a virus scan.
If you are infected, the antivirus software can neutralize or at least tell you the attachment is too dangerous to open. On the other hand, do not feel guilty if the idea of saving a potentially damaging file anywhere on your system is enough to quell his desire to open up and make it clear immediately.
Solution 3: Delete first, ask questions later.
If in doubt about the origin of an e-mail, it is best to delete it without previewing or opening it. However, some viruses such as Klez, propagate by fishing in those address books and sending of any contact that are located at another random contact. You can spread a virus with only the people in your address book, even if not actually mail anything. Will get another person in your address book, which really makes life confusing. Due to the proliferation of pornography on the Internet, e-mail viruses often tempt victims by using sexual filenames, such as nudes.exe. Do not fall for it.
Solution 4: Beware of virus hoaxes
E-mails warning about viruses are almost always hoaxes. You may be tempted to believe, because they normally receive from well-meaning friends, he received from friends, etc. These e-mails themselves usually are not viruses, but some have fallen into the hands of hackers who loaded them with viruses and forwarded them merrily on their way as a bad joke.
The proliferation of e-mails about virus hoaxes can be almost as bad as a real virus. Think about it, whether due to an email that tells you to forward it to everyone in your address book, and do so, and this goes on long enough, the Internet could lead to their knees. If you want to verify a virus warning, anti-virus vendor may have a list of hoaxes on it website. Is in the business of providing the fixes, so it is known that viruses are real.
Solution 5: Beware of filename extensions
The extension of a filename are the three characters that come after that point. Windows now defaults to hiding filename extensions, but is not a good idea. You can only see a suspicious extension and deleting the file before opening it can save you from a virus infection.
To view all extensions in the filename of your ad in the Windows XP desktop, click Start | Control Panel | Folder Options | View Tab. Uncheck the Hide extensions for known file types. Click Apply | OK. System files are still hidden, but you can see all the extensions of files that need to be concerned with. Viruses often live on files with these extensions -. Vbs,. Shs,. Pif,. Ink – and are almost never legitimately used for attachments.
Solution 6: Disable. Shs extension
A dangerous extension you can easily disable. Shs. Windows does not recognize this and will warn you before attempting to open a file. Shs file. The extension is generally used for “scrap object” files created in Word and Excel when you highlight text and drag it onto the desktop for pasting into other documents. If this is not something we never do, or if you have Word and Excel 2000 or later, allowing you to have 12 points in the Clipboard, click the Start button | Control Panel | Folder Options | File Types tab. Under Registered file types, scroll down and highlight the SHS extension. Click Delete | Yes | Apply | OK.
Solution 7: Treatment with double extensions
When you turn on your extensions in Windows, you will be able to detect viruses that Piggy Back in themselves innocent looking files with a double extension, such as happybirthday.doc.exe. NEVER trust a file with double extension – it goes against nature.
Solution 8: Beware of strangers. Exe
A virus is a program that must be executed to do its dirty work, so you can have one. Exe. Unfortunately, this is the same extension used by legitimate program files. Therefore, do not worry if you find files named Word.exe or Excel.exe on your system – they are your Microsoft software. Just do not EVER open any file with a. Exe if you do not know what the purpose of the file is.
Solution 9: Watch out for the icons
Viruses in the attachments have been known to assume the shape of familiar looking icons of text files or image, like the wolf in the henhouse. If you receive an unexpected attachment, do not open without running through your anti-virus software.
Solution 10: Do not download from public newgroups
What better place for a hacker to lurk and stick his virus in the middle of a crowd? Sooner or later, someone forced to download and get the virus going. Do not download files and programs from newsgroups or bulletin boards, or open attachments sent from strangers in chatrooms ( “Let’s exchange pictures!”) Without first scanning with your antivirus software.
Solution 11: Avoid pirated software
This may not seem obvious, but sometimes that tiny price tag on a popular but expensive package can be too good to resist. Resist! Also, be careful about accepting application software from others. You do not know where it was, and what may have started as a package could have been infected perfectly clean during the installation of another infected computer.
Solution 12: Protect macros in MS Word, Excel and PowerPoint
A common type of virus uses macros. Macros are sets of stored commands that users can save as shortcuts to perform long functions in just a few keystrokes. A macro virus may perform such mischief as changing file types from text files or templates in spreadsheets, the keypad lock, and delete files. Word, Excel and PowerPoint come with macro virus protection. To make sure yours is activated, each of the applications, and then click the Tools menu | Macro | Security. In the Security Level tab, make sure Medium or High is selected. Clcik OK. If you are already infected with a macro virus, it is possible that the steps in this procedure are unavailable because the virus is disabled. In this case, run a virus scan on your system to see if your anti-virus software can kill the virus.
Solution 13: Use passwords
If you share your computer, it’s a good idea to assign a password to all. Passwords should be a combination of letters and numbers no less than eight characters long, and preferably nonsensical. Never write passwords and stick them anywhere near the computer. To assign passwords in Windows XP, click Start | Control Panel | User Accounts. Follow the instructions to assign or change passwords.
Solution 14: Update application software
Microsoft constantly issues patches for security holes in its operating system and applications software. however, was not lulled into complacency if you have Windows Update automatically checking things for you. Update checks for patches to repair bugs in the operating system, not for security problems.
For the latest security patches (as Microsoft calls them), visit www.microsoft.com and search for all reviews of its Microsoft software, particularly Outlook and Outlook Express.
Microsoft also has a free downloadable package called Microsoft Baseline Security Analyzer (MBSA) that scans your system for missing revisions. Works with Windows 2000 and XP Home and Professional only. That is not compatible with Windows 95, 98 or ME.
To download MBSA, visit the section of Microsoft TechNet Web. Please note that the information is written in technical language, so it can be overwhelming.
Last Words
Now that you know some ways to prevent and deal with viruses, let’s wrap things up with a solution that has been heard before, but have ignored.
- A backup of your files regularly – If a virus crashes your system, you will feel much better if you have backups of all your important files. Make backup copies of the media independent of the equipment, such as diskettes, CDs, ZIP disks o. Scan for viruses before you put them away to ensure that they are infected. If so, that will not good if you ever have to use it only to transmit the virus back in the team.
- Make a boot disk – Create an emergency boot diskette before you have a problem so you can start your computer after a serious security issue to make a bootable floppy disk with Windows XP, put a blank floppy disk in drive . Open My Computer, then right-click the floppy drive. Click Format. Under Format options, click Create an MS-DOS startup disk. Click Start. Keep the disk in a safe place. With a little luck, you’ll never need to use it.
- Turn off your computer – the cable and DSL connections are “always” may be convenient, but you should always turn off the computer when not in use. Hackers can not get to a computer on which the off.
