LEARNING MORE ABOUT VIRUSES AND WORMS

Whenever you hear of a possible new virus, check with one of the following websites for additional information:

AVP Virus Encyclopedia	http://www.avp.ch/avpve
F-Secure Security	http://www.europe.f-secure.com/vir-info
Information Center Sophos	http://www.sophos.com
Symantec	http://www.symantec.com/avcenter
McAfee Security	http://www.mcafee.com/anti-virus
Trend Micro	http://www.trendmicro.com/vinfo

These websites list all known viruses (and virus hoaxes), their characteristics, what damage (if any) they cause, and how to detect them. To exchange messages about computer viruses, visit the comp.virus or alt.comp.virus Usenet newsgroups.

Whether you're a beginner or advanced computer user, expect that your computer will be attacked by a virus or worm at some time or another. The best way to protect your computer is to buy an antivirus program and update it regularly. Then take care to limit the chances that a virus or worm may infect your computer by doing the following:

• Never open suspicious email (stops macro viruses and mass-mailing worms)

• Install a firewall (stops Internet worms)

• Never run a program for the first time without scanning it with an antivirus program (stops file-infecting viruses)

• Never boot up your computer with a disk in the floppy drive (stops boot viruses)

• Buy an antivirus program and update it regularly (detects and removes all types of viruses and worms)

• Download any patches for your operating system, browser, and email program regularly (stops viruses or worms from exploiting known flaws in your programs)

Remember, the time to learn about viruses and worms is now, before you lose any data. Tomorrow may be too late.