The dreaded Computer Virus
There are a number of fairly simple things you can do to protect yourself from viruses:
- Get a good virus check program and run it periodically.
- Never ever open an executable from email or download, or anywhere else, without running it through a virus checker first.
- The same thing goes for any email attachment - there are a few sneaky ways to hide executables
- Never open any file from someone you don't know, and if you know them, still virus check it first!
- Don't give other people access to your files/hard drives (yes, this can be done with some chat programs)
- If you use chat programs like ICQ and IRC or any of the others that will send and receive files, make very sure you have them set not to automatically receive a file.
- InoculateIT Personal Edition
- From Computer Associates. A free virus checker - well written - everyone should have a virus check program. If you can't afford the more expensive ones, this one is pretty good. Take it back out of your start up or it may drive you nuts. The same is true of the more expensive McAfee and Norton, though. Just check anything you download before you run it.