There is nothing more terrifying than finding a virus in your computer system while in the middle of a important project. A virus is a program that reproduces by attaching itself to other programs. For example, a virus can be disguised as a Christmas Card and can spread infections worldwide within a short period of time via telephone and data networks. However, a virus program may not be the only menace to your computer. Other programs known as Trojan horses, time bombs or worms can be destructive to files and may be hidden somewhere on your disk. Fortunately, there is information currently available on-line to save you from having to reformat a diskette and reinstall programs and data files in the event of experiencing this problem. Here's a few tips to prepare for a threat from a boot sector (COMMAND.COM) or some executable program that can destroy your files:
This is what you should do if you suspect your computer has been tampered with a harmful piece of code:
Install only software from the original, but check all sources of the virus Make sure you check for updates and virus alerts on the Web since new viruses are discovered every day. Do not open Internet mail from strangers and protect your data from intruders by changing your password frequently. Choose a password that contains a combination of letters, numbers, punctuation marks and symbols. Do not use any word that can be found in a dictionary and make your password more than 6 digits. If you know that someone attempted a break-in through your user account, inform the system administrator. For more on computer virus protection, visit these Web sites. You may obtain the source for the fix and repair the affected symptom.