More on Viruses

09 May 2004 · 0 comments

I’d like to republish here my Tip in this month’s CommunityNet Aotearoa Panui, May 2004. I just wish all those Windows users would get responsible and keep their machines clean! This makes me pretty hot under the collar! Community.Net Tip: More on Viruses. In this day and age it’s difficult to believe that some people [...]

I’d like to republish here my Tip in this month’s CommunityNet Aotearoa Panui, May 2004. I just wish all those Windows users would get responsible and keep their machines clean! This makes me pretty hot under the collar!

Community.Net Tip: More on Viruses.

In this day and age it’s difficult to believe that some people still do nothing to stop their computers being infected by viruses. Viruses get so much publicity, do so much damage, cause so much disruption and cost so many billions of dollars per year (yes, billions) that you’d think everyone who wasn’t actually creating the vermin would actively guard against them.

Sadly, that’s not so. The count for April alone of virus-related messages received by the CommunityNet Aotearoa email address is 790. That’s about 1 message every hour to this computer. Someone out there who has our address somewhere on their Windows-OS computer also has the virus W32/Sober.f@MM. And of course that same virus is responsible for many thousands more messages than just the ones we’re receiving.

Information on w32.sober.f@mm

Systems Affected: Windows 2000, Windows 95, Windows 98, Windows Me, Windows NT, Windows XP.

Systems Not Affected: DOS, Linux, Macintosh, OS/2, UNIX.

If I went around throwing clods of mud at my neighbours’ windows all day every day I’d soon be arrested for creating a nuisance, yet that’s essentially what people are doing when they allow their computer to spread viruses. And we all have a responsibility to help keep our neighbourhood safe.

So please: whatever computer and operating system you use, take responsibility for keeping it free from viruses.

  1. Obtain, install and use effective antivirus software.
  2. Update that software often (that means daily if you use the Windows operating system).
  3. Delete or quarantine suspect emails without opening them.
  4. Check every single email attachment and internet download for viruses before opening them — even those from people and systems you totally trust.
  5. Update your operating system, web and email software whenever updates are available.

Some useful resources:

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