Anti-Virus Tips
Virus Detection and Prevention Tips
- Do not open
any files attached to an email from an unknown, suspicious or
untrustworthy source.
- Do not open
any files attached to an email unless you know what it is, even if it
appears to come from a dear friend or someone you know. Some viruses can
replicate themselves and spread through email. Better be safe than sorry
and confirm that they really sent it.
- Do not open
any files attached to an email if the subject line is questionable or
unexpected. If the need to do so is there always save the file to your
hard drive before doing so.
- Delete chain
emails and junk email. Do not forward or reply to any to them. These
types of email are considered spam, which is unsolicited, intrusive mail
that clogs up the network.
- Do not download
any files from strangers.
- Exercise caution
when downloading files from the Internet. Ensure that the source is a
legitimate and reputable one. Verify that an anti-virus program checks the
files on the download site. If you're uncertain, don't download the file
at all or download the file to a floppy and test it with your own
anti-virus software.
- Update your
anti-virus software regularly. Over 500 viruses are discovered each
month, so you'll want to be protected. These updates should be at the
least the products virus signature files. You may also need to update the
product's scanning engine as well.
- Back up your
files on a regular basis. If a virus destroys your files, at least you
can replace them with your back-up copy. You should store your backup copy
in a separate location from your work files, one that is preferably not on
your computer.
- When in doubt,
always err on the side of caution and do not open, download, or
execute any files or email attachments. Not executing is the more
important of these caveats. Check with your product vendors for updates
which include those for your operating system web browser, and email . One
example is the security site section of Microsoft located at
http://www.microsoft.com/security.
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