The scourge of the internet … no not advertising in
this case … viruses. They pop up everywhere, and becoming
more potent and dangerous every month.
Most new viruses found these days exploit two things on a
user's desktop… a security vulnerability in the software,
or the user's fascination with a love letter from Anna Kournikova!
But what do you do if you inadvertently trigger one? Simple,
you need to stop your PC from spreading the virus to other
PCs. You can do this by manually disconnecting your PC from
the network, or unplugging the modem. One thing you shouldn't
do on an impulse is to reboot. Shut down all applications,
you then need to find out which virus you have, and to eradicate
it. Use antivirus software, or search recognised antivirus
websites for similar characteristics. Most antivirus websites
will have instructions on removing the virus, and details
on how you got infected in the first place.
Of course the easiest way to avoid being infected is to be
protected in the first place. Regular Windows updates, use
up-to-date antivirus software and patching your applications
will help prevent such incidents, although this won't prevent
the curiosity factor. Prevention is always better than cure.
Moral of the story? Don't open emails or files that look
suspicious, and don't run applications that you're unfamiliar
with. If something suspicious does turn up, virus scan it
if you can, else delete it. If it happens in the office, then
report it to the people who know about the subject... "Don't
Panic Mr Mainwaring!!"
Further Reading...
www.antivirus.com/pc-cillin/
www.mcafee.com/anti-virus/
|
