Viruses

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Viruses and Anti-Virus Software

Computer viruses are programs designed to replicate and spread, sometimes without indicating to the user that they exist. These viruses can take control of address books and email a copy of the virus to all of your contacts and make it look like it came from you. Outlook is frequently targeted in this way. These viruses can delete your My Documents folder, damage your registry files, or pull harmless pranks. It has been estimated that six new viruses are created every day. These are usually saved in one of two formats in an email attachment: 1) files ending with .exe, and 2) files ending with .vbs. These are endings associated with program files. Unless you programmed these files yourself, NEVER open an email attachment with these file endings. Viruses may come in many other file formats as well. Macro viruses, for example, can come embedded in Word documents, spreadsheets, etc. While there may be a number of harmless files, one will inevitably contain a virus.

The best security is to install anti-virus software to monitor any incoming files and to scan your hard drive regularly. It is not good enough to have old anti-virus software, because of the continual influx of new viruses. The virus definitions in the anti-virus software should be updated weekly.

Some common anti-virus software programs include Norton, McAfee and Dr. Solomon. Lower academic pricing is available for students at the UVic Computer Store. Be a responsible computer user and install an anti-virus software program.

The next section in this module is on using a personal firewall.

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