Question:
How can I protect myself from viruses and Trojan horse programs?
Computer Virus Hoaxes
Hoax warnings are typically scare alerts started by malicious people - and passed on by innocent users who think they are helping internet security by spreading the warning. Do not forward hoax messages. There are cases where email security systems have collapsed after dozens of users forwarded a false alert to everybody in the company. Corporate users can get rid of the hoax problem by simply setting a strict company computer securityguideline: End users must not forward virus alarms. Ever. It's not the job of an end user anyway. If such message is received, end users could forward it to the IT department but not to anyone else. Home users should become familiar with one of several legitimate web sites that catalog and track virus hoaxes.
Viruses and Online Chat
Good computer security means being extremely careful about accepting programs or other files during on-line chat sessions: this seems to be one of the more common means that people wind up with virus or Trojan horse information security problems. And if any other family members (especially younger ones) use the computer, make sure they know not to accept any files while using chat.
Chain Emails and Computer Viruses
Viruses, Trojans, exploits and other malicious software are only part of the computer security perils of online life. Chain e-mail and Pyramid posts on Usenet are a scam, and most often, they are a crime. Any scheme that involves real mail at any point can be illegal. If you forward one, you will be blasted with hundreds of angry messages in reply. But if you see one, remember that you can't really be sure who sent it.
Trojan Horse Virus
Anti-virus internet security software isn't very good at detecting Trojan horse programs, so for the sake of your information security be extremely careful about opening binary files and Word/Excel documents from unknown or 'dubious' sources. This includes posts in binary newsgroups, downloads from web/ftp sites that aren't well-known or don't have a good reputation, and executable files unexpectedly received as attachments to E-mail or during an on-line chat session.
Internet Safety Frequently Asked Questions
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How can I protect myself from viruses and Trojan horse programs?
How can a firewall protect my computer?
How did computer hacking start?
What organizations exist to help combat computer crime?
How can I protect myself from viruses and Trojan horse programs?
How have computer viruses evolved?
What can you tell me about hackers?
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| Guru Spotlight |
| George Sayour |
