Click here to go direct to help on the SNOW WHITE virus (from HaHaHa)

A virus is a small piece of software code attached to a computer file. Viruses are contagious - they spread from file to file on your computer.

Viruses spread to other computers via either floppy disks, email or the Internet. Once a file with a virus makes it onto your computer, it checks for other files it can attach itself to. They are written specifically by vandals to cause mischief and are attached to files that are likely to be downloaded, sent or copied onto many computers.

Varieties?

· the 'malignant' virus which is designed to cause real damage to your files and/or your computer. These are the nasty viruses that do things like add messages to or delete your documents, or even erase your entire hard disk.

· 'benign' viruses which are not designed to cause any harm to your computer or its files. This type of virus is usually designed to be a nuisance.

Macro Viruses

Did you hear of the 'Melissa' virus last year? We've seen many of these new 'macro viruses' since then. Another example was the 'Concept' virus a couple of years ago. These particular viruses use the macro language behind Microsoft Word to spread very quickly...firstly to other files on your computer and then to other computers via files that you email or copy to others. The Melissa virus in particular was spread via email - so if you opened a file which had that virus, it would send itself to the first 50 people in your address book via your own email system.

New Microsoft applications have Virus Protection features designed to combat macro viruses, which are enabled by default and will bring up a warning if you try to open a document which contains automatically executing macros.

Eek! How to protect yourself

You should make sure you have a virus checking program installed on your computer, such as Symantec Norton AntiVirus, which detects over 40,000 viruses and which is available for both Windows and Mac for under $100 from all software retailers.

Virus checking programs will check:

-          floppy disks as you insert them,

-          programs as you execute them and

-          email and internet files as you download them.

It will also come with an option to regularly update your program via the Internet or diskette. Another great anti-virus program is McAfee VirusScan – they have posted up-to-date and extremely thorough information about the new PrettyPark virus going around via email. Once opened, it sends itself out to everyone in your address book every half hour until you get rid of it!

If you do have an Internet connection, keep an eye on Symantec's Anti-Virus site, which lists all sorts of information about viruses at: www.symantec.com/avcenter. The best thing about this site is its list of 'virus hoaxes'. If you receive an email about a virus alert, always check the hoax list before you forward the message to your email buddies. Its likely the virus doesn't even exist and is just a nasty email.

Email Viruses

Most of the time, you can safely open an email and read it without fear of a virus – they are usually in the files attached to the email, so the danger comes when you go to open the attached file. However, recently, a new virus called the KAK worm has been going around using Microsoft Outlook Express, which manages to find its way to your computer as an email WITHOUT an attachment. Updating your anti-virus program should protect you from this virus, or download the patch from Microsoft.

Hoax Emails

Chain Letters - An email that sounds just like one of those chain letters you used to receive as a kid, is just that - a gimmick. It is not possible that Microsoft will send you $1000 if you send the message to 10 friends. It is not possible that a cure will be found for a child's disease if you send the message to your entire address book.

Virus Warning Hoaxes

The first way to identify a hoax virus warning email is to see if it mentions that the virus warning has been 'issued by Microsoft on their web site'. Microsoft do not issue virus warnings on their website. Some virus warnings. The emails tell you to forward the warning to everyone in your address book. The best way to be covered for any viruses is to make sure your anti virus software is up to date - as mentioned at the top of this fact sheet.

Sometimes it's really hard to work out whether a message is the real deal, so first check a couple of great web sites:

http://www.symantec.com/avcenter/hoax.html

http://www.us.sophos.com/virusinfo/hoaxes/

Telstra Bigpond's Hoax info

Thanks to Keith and Loreen for letting me know about this extra address to check for Urban Legends and Folklore.. including email hoaxes... http://urbanlegends.about.com/science/urbanlegends/mbody.htm - you'll get lost there for a while... its a laugh.

The best selling 'PCs for Dummies' book has been adapted for the first time for Australia by yours truly, me! Click on the book image to order the book now!