Diane Creel
SLM 521/Elective 4
Viruses
Part I-
Response Letter to Hoax Virus Warning
Hi!
Thank you for your email warning me about the ___________virus. In a Telecommunication and the Internet course I’m taking I have learned some of these warnings are hoaxes, but many of them actually contain the virus itself!
Please visit the websites Hoax Information at http://sarc.com/avcenter/hoax.html and Virus Hoaxes at http://us.mcafee.com/virusInfo/default.asp?id=hoaxes%20 for more information. These sites give lists of the newest virus and ‘free stuff’ hoaxes. Another site, Home Computer Security, at http://www.cert.org/homeusers/HomeComputerSecurity/ will give you additional information on how to keep your computer safe. Enjoy!
Diane
Part II
Don’t Let This Happen To You!
How to Avoid Viruses,
What are they?
- A virus is a piece of code or
software that causes a real program to malfunction or perform a task that
is usually negative. It attaches
itself on a real program, spreadsheet or document. Each time the program runs, the virus
runs too, and can attach itself to other programs, spreadsheets or
documents. Viruses trick people into opening infected attachments by using
cute names, promises of games or funny pictures. E-mail viruses infect computer systems the same way program or
software viruses do, but they reproduce in the e-mail victim’s address
book, and automatically mails itself to the people in the victim’s address
book.
- A worm is a type of virus that is in a computer network. It can copy itself from machine to machine by finding a place in the network that has a security hole. Once they find the security hole in a piece of software or operating system, the worm sends itself to other computers to cause disruptions and mayhem.
- A Tojan Horse is a computer program that says it does one thing (typically a game) but instead does something totally unexpected and usually destructive to the user’s computer. Although they do not replicate automatically, the problems they create, sometimes wiping out a computer hard drive, cause extensive damage.
- A Hoax comes in the form of an e-mail from a friend or acquaintance giving a dire warning meant to frighten or mislead people into believing another destructive virus in on the loose. This can cause problems because people become so used to receiving the warnings that they don’t believe it when a real virus is on the attack. Many of these hoax messages themselves are destructive because they often contain the virus they are warning about. Another aspect of hoaxes is the ‘free stuff’ or promotional hoaxes from well-known companies or corporations. These hoaxes cause serious problems for the companies and often result in loss of revenue from customers who are disgruntled because of the bogus claims made in the hoax.
How can you avoid
them?
- Purchase virus protection software.
- Never open an e-mail attachment unless you know what it is, even if it is from a close friend or relative you trust.
- Never double-click on an attachment that is an EXE, COM, or VBS file, as these are the types that are able to be infected with a virus.
- If an e-mail promotional seems too good to be true, it probably is. Check promotions and hoax warnings on sites such as http://sarc.com/avcenter/hoax.html or http://us.mcafee.com/virusInfo/default.asp?id=hoaxes%20.
- Avoid downloading programs from unknown sources on the internet and use only commercial software purchases.
- Disable the floppy disc booting program on your computer. Most computers allow you to do this because it will eliminate this source of virus infection.
- If using Microsoft applications, make sure the Macro Virus Protection is on, and never run macros unless you know exactly what they do.
- Check all software for viruses, even new ones shrink-wrapped from a major publisher, as these can contain viruses.
- Make sure you have at least two backups for all your files to help you recover documents lost to a virus.