Getting a virus means getting sick and no one in
their right mind wants to be ill. Well, now that computers have become
our close friends, it’s a shock to learn that foreign bodies too can
invade them with malicious intent. No, your computer doesn’t get a runny
nose or diarrhea. This is a sickness that stops your friend from
functioning properly, sick in bed, incapacitated.
Well in Nature viruses occur from a power outside of our control. But,
with computers it’s different, humans, mean or ignorant humans are
creating these viruses. Why? Usually these are disgruntled people who
want to wreak some havoc on others or companies that they feel have done
wrong to them. In any case we have to be in the know and prepared to
deal with these debilitating scourges.
There are many ways to approach the protection of your computer. First
of all there’s the step of awareness. Be aware of how viruses are
transmitted. You can catch them from a disc but in most cases it is
through your email system. Check your email carefully. Be very wary of
anything that has an attachment. Check whom it’s from and look at the
title of the mail, is it something you were expecting? Even if it’s from
someone you know, be careful as their computer could be infected and the
virus being transmitted without their knowledge.
Next, read the cover message, you can’t catch the disease without
actually opening the message. Look at the name of the attachment;
remember viruses are written to entice you. Beware of free offers and
generally anything from people you don’t know, as well as messages that
sound irrelevant to your contact’s usual style. Delete them straight
away. Delete, delete, delete. This will ensure you of a lower risk of
infection. You can even send the message back to the sender without
opening it to make sure it is valid.
Now for the heavy protection: Virus scanning and virus protection
software, and rescue discs are all readily available and easily
utilized. Some are free, and others are obtained for a very small
charge. Most software manufacturers offer subscriptions for updating
services, which automatically download protection to the latest viruses.
There are two main types of virus scanning software: one searches
through your entire computer files looking for recognizable viral
signatures, the other scans your incoming and outgoing emails. Alerts
will show you when a file needs to be erased or repaired. If you do
receive a virus that none of the software can repair you can send a copy
of it to a company like Symantec who will be happy to develop a cure for
it.
The main message here is not to get too worried about your good friend
Mrs. PC getting ill or sick. The humans are on top of the case and they
seem much better adapted at fixing their technology than they are at
beating the viruses that attack our physical bodies. If only we could
cure human virus and illness as easily as we solve the problem of
computer sickness.
Jesse S. Somer is an analyst hoping to show fellow humans how far the
computer age has come in terms of its strengths and weaknesses.
Article Source:
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