Computer viruses are files that can attack your system and damage your programs and documents. Most viruses are spread when someone sends you an email message with an unexpected file attachment and then you open the file. It's just too easy to receive an email message with a file attached, click the file to open it, and then launch the virus file. Boom! Your computer is infected.
Viruses can be found in many types of files. The most common file types for viruses are .EXE, .VBS, .PIF, and .COM. Viruses can also be embedded in Word (.DOC) or Excel (.XLS) files. You can't catch a virus from a picture file, so viewing a .JPG, .GIF, .TIF, and .BMP file is completely safe. The best way to avoid catching a virus via email is to not open any files attached to incoming email messages. Period. That includes messages where you know the sender, because some viruses are capable of taking over an email program and "spoofing" other users' addresses. An email message might look like it's coming from a friend, but it's really coming from another machine and includes a virus. (Pretty tricky, eh?) By default, Outlook Express is configured to auto- matically reject files that might contain viruses. You can verify this setting (or turn it off, if you want to receive a file), by opening the Options dialog box, selecting the Security tab, and checking both options in the Virus Protection section. caution
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