The Anti-Virus Page

Lots of surfers are getting virus infections from email attachments. There is ONLY one way to prevent 95% of them and that is DO NOT OPEN ATTACHMENTS!!!
Delete it and if you think it may have been okay, email the sender back and ask him to resend it.

But of course you want to send each other pix so what to do?....
First and foremost is get an anti virus program and KEEP IT UP TO DATE!!!

If you don't know anything about them - FIND OUT!!! Visit the links below

When you get an attachment look closely at what it is called... if the file is anything that has an ending of .pif or .scr or .vbs or .exe it's a virus for sure!
If the file has 2 endings such as mypic.gif.scr or bigone.jpg.pif - it's a virus!
Even, in fact especially, if the attachment is from someone you know delete it. Or at least copy it to a folder and then run an anti-virus program on it.
Many virus programs sit on your computer and when you are on the Internet send out either just a virus or a file from your computer along with a copy of the virus, to EVERYONE in your address book!
I do not keep an address book to prevent accidental virus emissions and I would strongly urge everyone who uses the one that comes with ANY version of Windows to delete it and stop using it. If you email someone just use reply, not your address book. Some virus' will scan your hard drive for any thing that looks like an email address i.e.: aname@somewhere.else and send out thousands of copies of itself to everyone.

So when is it safe to open an attachment?....

If the attachment is the sort of thing you were expecting AND the sender clearly acknowledges that a picture is attached AND the file does NOT have 2 .endings such as .jpg.scr then it's probably safe to open it... BUT first save it to a folder on your computer that you have previously made called virus. Then BEFORE opening it SCAN it with your anti-virus program.

NEVER repeat, NEVER open ANY attachment unless scanned with an UP-TO-DATE anti-virus program first.
These are places to find out more about viruses (virii?) and how to prevent or/and clean them off your system.
Norton Anti-Virus
McAfee Anti-Virus
Excellent FREE Anti-Virus Program
The FreeSite


Virus Info


There are lots more places - just do a search for Anti Virus Programs on any search engine.

Another very common way to get a virus and/or to have a lot more MAJOR personal problems is via the OPEN PORTS on your computer. Ports are the 'doorways' into your computer while on the Internet. Doorways that let in dozens of 'burglars' every time you go on the 'net. And if you are on the 'net via cable hundreds of them. Go here to Gibson's Research website and read more and while there get a free port check of your system.
Then after paranoia sets in go here and get a free firewall program.

Lots of viruses don't just arrive and instantly ruin your computer, they can lay in wait until the date on your computer reaches a date the virus is programmed for and suddenly you turn on your computer and... zapp! ...that's the last time you'll probably be able to use it or anything on it ever again! Back up your important stuff BEFORE this happens!

AND BY THE WAY!!!... if your computer gets screwed up and you take it to a computer repair shop. They MAY report pornography to a local cop. There are laws being made about this and in place in some communities. Again if your paranoia is great enough or you have secrets that you really want to keep, you may want to go here: Evidence Eliminator and purchase the best protection program available.

A checklist... of sorts

Dump your address book
Learn how to use the Options Menu in your browser.
Turn off all the open icons in your taskbar by your clock in the lower right of the windows desktop.
Never open email attachments without scanning each one with an UP-TO-DATE anti-virus program. Some are free, some you buy, either way get the updates at least every 14 days. The program makers will update every few days to keep up with the new viruses on the Internet. Most of the companies make these updates free of charge for at least a year.
If you have instant messenger or IRC chat programs - turn them off.
Never just click on an address that arrives with your email.
Never click-on a link or reply to any emails inviting you to see something 'wild' or get something free.
Learn about 'Message Rules' and how to set them in your Windows email program

Another Nifty Program to help with getting rid of Spam Email and really works well, is SpamPal available free of charge from SpamPal

Learn more about protecting your computer and yourself. Use the search engines on the Internet to get information and be VERY aware that there are over 500 million on the Internet - If you lived in a city of 500 million plus, think of how big the crime problem would be. On the Internet you are not only moments away from criminals but computer savvy criminals at that. So take care.

Hank
Update Dec 31st 2005:
According to: http://www.internetworldstats.com/stats.htm there are 1,018,057,389 Internet Users (thats about 1 in 6 people worldwide)

Return to Wanker's Over 50 Contents page