   
Viruses
Whereas pornography etc., is at least obvious, viruses are quite another issue. It
seems that innumerable antisocial characters are constantly churning out devious software
routines which endeavour to smuggle themselves into unprotected computers and once
ensconced there will wreak all manner of devastation. Viruses have been known to wipe the
host computer’s hard drive (rendering the machine quite useless - which can be
repaired - but, what is worse, damaging irreplaceable data files, which can’t), send
offensive emails to everyone in the PC’s address book or cause random, strange
effects. If your PC connects to the Internet (and you would find reading this
article rather difficult if yours doesn’t!), you need antivirus software. It is not a
luxury, neither is it an option - it is absolutely vital!! Norton Antivirus or
McAfee Antivirus are both very good, but if you cannot afford to buy these products, visit
Trend Micro PC-Cillin at http://uk.trendmicro.com/uk/home/
for a free scan & a chance for inexpensive software. REMEMBER: Antivirus software must
be updated regularly (at least once a month!) for it to be of any use. Antivirus vendors
produce regular free (usually) updates to their software, since sometimes dozens of
viruses appear every week. If you do not keep your antivirus software up to date, do not
complain if your PC contracts a virus!
Email
Email can also contain viruses, although pure plain text, without attachments is
quite safe. Generally speaking, at time of writing, it is still not possible to infect
pictures, sounds or video, so attachments ending in .jpg, .gif, .bmp, .mpeg, .wav, .mov
etc. are safe. If you receive an unexpected email with a strange attachment, check it with
the originator before opening it - unless, of course, your antivirus software is bang up
to date! Please note that Microsoft Word (.doc) & Excel documents (.xls), compressed
or zip files (.zip, .tar.gz, .gzip, .rar, .arj or files ending in a number, e.g. .001, 002
etc.), formatted email (HTML-formatted email is sent in the same format as this page at
which you are looking) and self-executable files, or programs (.exe & .com - not the
web addresses, but files attachments) are all either susceptible to, or used as carriers
of, viruses. And if you receive an email with a .js, .vb or .vbs attachment, delete the
email unless you are positive that you know exactly what the file is (and if you are
expecting such a file, save the attachment first, scan it with your virus scanner, then
open it. You have been warned!) Unfortunately, because the default setting setting in
Windows 95 & 98 is to hide the three-letter file ending (Microsoft say that this is
because it is “friendlier”!), you will not always know that the innocent file
you’ve been sent, called, e.g. ILOVEYOU.TXT, is really called ILOVEYOU.TXT.VBS, and
that Microsoft has obligingly hidden the nasty .VBS ending! For your own peace of mind,
open Windows Explorer (usually indicated with  ), and, depending on the version of Windows, select either
Edit|Options, or Edit|Tools, View|Folder Options, and then View and make sure that Hidden
Files - Show all files is checked, and that Hide file extensions for known file types is
unchecked. Apply, and close Explorer. This way, if someone tries to slip you a virus you
will at least see that it has a strange ending and be able to take the necessary action.
Email hoaxes abound which inform you a
particularly nasty email virus is circulating which will delete all your files, bombard
you with pornography, cause your PC to explode or various other weird and wonderful
catastrophes. If you have current antivirus software, you may safely ignore such stuff.
These messages invariably ask you to forward the message to everyone in your address book
- DON'T!!! Firstly, if you do not have current antivirus protection, such nonsense should
stimulate you to get sorted out, not to assume that no-one else has protection! Secondly,
when everyone panics and sends these hoaxes around, the ISPs’ mailservers get clogged
up with multiple messages, the Internet slows down and you have served the
email-hoaxer’s real intent - to sow confusion. If in doubt, contact someone you can
trust and ask them whether the virus, etc. is real or not... Then delete the email! (Why
keep rubbish?)
When you send an attachment, whether it is a
picture, a CV or other document or whatever, always try to make a point of mentioning the
attachment in your text - especially if the recipient is not expecting anything. Remember
also that not everyone will have the same software as yourself, so check with your
recipient that they will be able to read your attachment. It is generally speaking best to
send pictures as .jpg (unless you need to send a high definition photograph) and documents
as .rtf (Rich Text Format), since most PCs and Macs can read these formats. Furthermore,
it is still not possible to send a virus with either of these formats. Remember to save
these attachments to a suitable folder on your computer before viewing, to allow
your antivirus software (which you have, of course, now installed and updated!) to scan
them (just in case you’ve really been sent “Picture of Mum at the
Seaside.jpg.vbs”!!!). Outlook Express automatically opens pictures and certain
attachments - generally speaking this is safe if your antivirus software is up to date.
Firewalls
Any computer that connects to the Internet is at risk from unauthorised access and
viruses. Most domestic users seldom connect long enough to attract the unwelcome
attentions of “hackers”, however, and very few private computers hold
information of any interest to such individuals, but businesses can and often do attract
hackers - particularly those that conduct their business over the internet. If you run a
business (even a small one from home) and/or connect for lengthy periods of time to the
internet, you should seriously consider installing a “firewall” (a security
mechanism, either a separate PC, or a piece of software, which filters out and examines
all the signals which would otherwise freely penetrate into your PC). If you are fortunate
to be connected by ISDN, ADSL or cable modem (or a free or flat-rate Dial-up modem where
you can connect for hours at a time), this should be high priority. For firewalls and
security information, I strongly recommend having a look at the Gibson Research
Corporation’s homepage, 
& the free (for personal use) firewall utility Zone Alarm at  http://www.zonelabs.com/.
Please note that PC/IT
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