PC Voyage Web Sites

Hard to believe, but it seems that the biggest problem behind PCs getting hit with a Computer Virus is not because users don't have an AV (Anti-Virus) program, it's because they do have an Anti-Virus program that is running, but not up to date! That's right - a new PC will come with an AV program such as Norton Anti-Virus, which dutifully loads and runs each time the PC is started. But, after a few months goes by, the PC gets a virus that is not detected by the AV program. That is because the virus Continued next column

'Pattern' file is never updated, or, the updates were done until a fee was required to continue receiving them, and the fee was never paid.
Most computer Viruses spread around the Internet and get into a PC via Email as an Email Attachment, but can still be spread around by an infected Floppy Disk or CD. Also, if you have Email that uses Outlook Express, you are more likely to get a virus than if you use Server based Email, such as Yahoo Email. The best Offense against a virus is a good Defense:

The first line of defense is your Email Service having the ability to detect and block an infected Email before it ever gets to your PC. If you are using Outlook, check with your ISP to see if they are actively scanning Email attachments for viruses.
The next line of defense, and THE most important, is your ability to study an incoming File Attachment and recognize a suspicious file before you double-click on it, or open it. The Table below shows examples of File Names and most importantly, File Extensions. The Extension is the most important thing to study. Then see 'What to Do'.
The last line of defense is to have an Anti-Virus program running and most importantly, kept up to date!

Sample File Name	Name Part	Exten-sion	Actual use for this File Type	Notes:	Likelihood of being a virus
2002Budget.vbs	2002Budget	vbs	Visual Basic Script	Used by Programmers	100%
Funny Cartoon.exe	Funny Cartoon	exe	Any Executable program file	Masquerades as a harmless file	Very
scenery.scr	scenery	scr	A Screen Saver	Masquerades as a Screen Saver	Very
MyDocument.pif	MyDocument	pif	a Program Information File used as a DOS Shortcut		100%
www.NeatSite.com	www.NeatSite	com	An Executable file	Masquerades as a Web Site link	100%
readme.bat	readme	bat	a Batch file		100%
VACATION.DOC.pif	VACATION.DOC	pif	See above	Masquerades as a Word Document	100%
MyPictures.zip	MyPictures	zip	One or more compressed files, packed into one file. (Zipped files are a legitimate and common way to send several files as one file of much smaller size)	The Zipped file may contain a virus file of any of the above types. Study the file names that are in the Zipped file when you open it with Winzip	Somewhat

What to Do?!?

If you are using Outlook Express and receive an Email with a File Attachment
- Click once on the Paperclip Icon that designates 1 or more files are attached. This will display a list of Filenames for Attached Files. In Outlook, you may see the file names under the message.
- Study the File Names, but more critically, look at the File Extensions. If a File Extension is one of the following, it is either definately a virus program or is very likely to be a virus and needs to be deleted. Under no circumstance should you Double Click or Open the file!
  - .vbs
  - .exe
  - .scr
  - .pif
  - .com
  - .bat
- As an added precaution, in Outlook Express, go into Tools, then Options and make sure the box next to 'Automatically download message when viewing in the Preview Pane' is Unchecked.
If you are using Server based Email, such as Yahoo, study the File Names and Extensions and use their option to Scan for Viruses before download.
Remember, just because an Email is 'from someone you know', hardly means it won't contain a virus. Most viruses are spread when the virus program goes into someone's Address Book and sends itself out to everyone listed, all without their knowledge. To make things worse, the newest viruses 'Spoof' the Email by substituting a name in the Address Book into the 'From" field to make it appear as if the Email is coming from someone other than the computer's owner!
How can you tell if your system became infected and sent out a virus to your address book? If, shortly after you have opened a File Attachment, you suddenly see a long list of new Emails in the inbox with a subject relating to 'Undeliverable Email', or 'Recipient Unknown', it means your system has sent out many new Emails (without your knowledge) and several of them were rejected. There are only a couple of reasons an Email would come back
- Some of the Addresses lingering in your Address Book are old and no longer valid. Those Emails never make it to their destination, and a Mail Server has generated a message back to you
- A Mail Server somewhere along the way has detected that your system sent out an Email with an Attachment containing a virus and blocked it from going through. You received a message back that it was blocked because it contained a virus.
- Don't be fooled by the Subject of the Email, no matter how innocent, harmless, cute or important it seems to be. Always look at the File Attachment and especially the File Extension!

Use your BACK button to Return, or,
Back to Main Page