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| Checklist: Use
Antivirus Software |
| Virus
writers are working around the clock to attack you; the anti-virus
vendors and Microsoft are working around the clock to help protect
you.
Help protect your computer files
and e-mail by using and updating your anti-virus software.
To help reduce the risk of a virus
exploiting a vulnerability in your Microsoft software, make sure
you have the latest patches and updates for your Microsoft Office
applications and Microsoft® Windows® operating system. |
| Print this article and use it
as a checklist. If
you work in a managed IT environment, always check with your
system administrator before making changes to your computer
at work. |
|
| Besides
picking up a virus from an e-mail attachment, you can acquire a
virus or worm from free content you download from a Web site or
on a diskette someone shares with you.
If your computer is not protected,
once you download and install the program, the virus can spread.
Viruses can spread around the world
in less than 24 hours. But even after a virus is no longer in the
news, it may still be active and can continue to harm computers
that are not protected. |
How big is the virus problem?
There are at least 60,000 known
viruses and more are written every day. About 95-98% of viruses
come through e-mail and instant messaging. Often viruses arrive
with e-mail disguised as something entertaining, like pictures,
music, or greeting cards. |
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Viruses can carry a damaging
payload, such as a worm or Trojan horse program. When a
virus infects your e-mail or other files, it can:
- Make copies of itself—possibly
filling up your disk drive.
- Send itself to everyone
else on your e-mail list.
- Reformat your disk drive
and/or delete your files and programs.
- Install hidden programs,
such as pirated software, that can be distributed and
sold using your machine.
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| Checklist
to Help Protect against Viruses |
|
Which steps
do you need to take to help protect your data and computer
from viruses?
|
1.
Have you installed the Outlook E-mail Security Update (OESU)?
Microsoft Outlook® 2000 SR-1
E-mail Security Update and the Outlook 98 E-mail Security
Update can help protect you against many viruses that are
spread via e-mail attachments (such as the Goner, ILOVEYOU,
and Melissa viruses) and worm viruses that can replicate
by using the Outlook Address Book. Microsoft strongly encourages
all users of Outlook 2000 and Outlook 98 to install the
appropriate update for their version of Outlook.
- Outlook E-mail Security
Update—Frequently Asked Questions
- Outlook 2000 Update
- Outlook 98 Update
- Outlook 2000 SR-1 E-mail
Security Update International Releases
|
| 2. Do
you already have antivirus software? |
- When you buy a new computer,
make certain it has antivirus software pre-installed.
If not, buy the software, install it, and activate it
before you use your new computer. For the best experience
on Windows XP, look for products that carry the Designed
for Windows XP logo.
- Purchase antivirus software.
Antivirus software is available from a variety of vendors,
including:
- McAfee
- Symantec
(Norton)
- Computer
Associates
- Register new antivirus
software. When you register your new software, choose
to be kept notified of product updates.
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| 3.
Get some of the best protection available from anti-virus
software |
Take advantage of options
for automatic updates and scheduling routine examination
of your computer for the presence of infection.
- Scan incoming e-mail and
attachments. Practice good perimeter protection—scan files
before you open them.
- Sign up for automatic
updates. Let the program help protect you by automatically
updating the virus signature files. (See "How Anti-Virus
Software Protects You" sidebar.)
- Schedule weekly disk drive
scans. Schedule your antivirus program to check your system
while you sleep. It will have a report waiting for you
in the morning.
- Make sure it's working.
Check the antivirus icon on your task bar regularly to
make sure your software is active.
- Upgrade when you upgrade
other programs. When you upgrade your computer's operating
system or other software programs, get the latest version
of your antivirus software, too.
|
When you learn
that a new virus is spreading, visit your antivirus vendor's
site to learn about its behaviour and what software products
it affects. |
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| 4. How
to know if your computer has a virus? |
| Stay
alert for these symptoms:
- Computer slows down. This
could indicate unauthorized activity going on in the background.
- Very large amount of modem
activity. If you have an external modem, you may notice
the lights blinking excitedly when you are not actively
using the computer, such as downloading a file. You could
be supplying pirated software.
- Unusual behaviour of your
computer. Notice if applications are not operating correctly
or if content in files appears scrambled.
|
 |
| 5.
What should you do if you get a virus? |
| Taking aspirin won't help
your computer! But you should act quickly to: |
- Get the latest "virus
signature file" from your antivirus vendor's Web
site. For each new virus, antivirus vendors issue updates
as inoculants against new viruses. Check for procedures
to follow.
- Run your virus protection
scan. It will find infected files automatically. It will
advise whether it is able to remove viruses from every
file or whether you should delete infected files (You
DID back up your data this week, didn't you? See the Conducting
Routine Security Maintenance checklist.)
- Inform anyone you may
have infected. After you eradicate the virus from your
system, inform those with whom you have shared files that
they may be at risk from infection.
|
By using common
sense and helping to protect your computer from unauthorized
intrusions and attachments, you can enjoy all that the Internet
has to offer. Minimize your risks by following these steps:
- Assess your risk
- Use antivirus software
- Keep your software up-to-date
- Check your security settings
- Use a firewall
- Create strong passwords
- Conduct routine security
maintenance
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| For more information setting
up a wireless network or tackling the issue of network security,
please call us on 0845 1 30 40 60 |
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