METHODS OF INFECTION

A floppy disk or other removable media remains a common source of infection, especially one given to you by a friend or co-worker. The person may not realize that it contains a virus, and you can’t be sure it has been effectively virus-checked.

Opening an e-mail attachment could cause infection, although reading a plain text e-mail won’t. You can never be sure what the attachment is. It might look like it’s a .jpg file, or a harmless picture, but you never know …

Downloading software can mean downloading a virus. If you go to a reputable site like Download (www.download.com) and download a well-known program, you’re unlikely to get a virus. But if someone sends you an e-mail with a new program attached, don’t open it!

Office networks can spread viruses. Worms can operate over a network and work their way around several PCs.

HOW TO AVOID VIRUSES

Eject floppies from your disk drive before you start your PC. If the floppy has a boot-sector virus, it will infect your hard disk as soon as the PC starts. Since a boot-sector virus mimics your real boot code, it will try to start up from the floppy. The virus copies itself to your hard drive and gets to work. You can be infected whether the attempt to boot from the floppy was successful, or not.

If you are opening an unknown Microsoft Word file, open it with another related program, such as WordPad. This is because Word macro viruses can only infect copies of files in Word, and WordPad cannot run macros.

Set antivirus software to automatically scan all floppies you use, even new ones. Write-protect any floppies you give to others to prevent them passing on viruses inadvertently when they return them. Hold the floppy face down, with the metal cover toward you. Slide the tab on the upper left corner up to uncover the hole and write-protect the disk.

Use Virus-Protection software to safeguard your PC. An effective program has two components: disinfection and scanning. First, it finds viruses on your hard drive and destroys them, then runs in the background, scanning for viruses as you open and closes files, insert floppy disks, or surf the Net. Download updates, called “definitions,” from program manufacturers’ websites, or subscribe to have updated software sent to you on CD-ROM so that you can identify and destroy the latest viruses.

TOP 10 WARNING SIGNS

Think you’ve got a virus? Not all these symptoms will appear, and some will conceal themselves or may be caused by other reasons. But they will provide a solid starting point for your diagnosis.

1. Your PC runs very slowly for no apparent reason.
2. Programs take long to load.
3. Files disappear from your hard drive.
4. Program files expand in size.
5. You have trouble opening or saving Word documents.
6. Your PC often crashes or suddenly reboots itself.
7. Your hard drive is accessed more often.
8. Your screen colors change, or strange messages appear, such as “Your computer is now stoned.”
9. Devices that once worked now don’t even though you haven’t changed your system configuration.
10. If you are on a network, you notice that the problems affecting your computer have started occurring on other PCs in your office.

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