"If at first you don't succeed, look in the trash for the instructions."
Protect Your Windows Computer
From E-mail Viruses!
Web Tech Support Page!
a
Protect Your Computer From e-mail
Viruses: Tech Support Page!
By Raymond Garcia
Web Tech Geek.com
Updated:
Protect Your Computer From e-mail Viruses Tech Support Page: Here's the tips you need to help
protect your computer from those evil e-mail viruses.
Think of these tips as a few golden rules for preventing e-mail viruses from
wreaking havoc on you and your computer. Don't open e-mail with file attachments. The first think you should do with email with files
attachment is to always
check with the email sender to make sure that the email
truly came from them and to find out what the file contains
before you open it.
A e-mail virus can affect you computer system in many negative ways, including: information disclosure; add/modify/delete files; affect system stability; install a backdoor; attack other systems; and send spam to other users.
If your computer doesn't have anti-virus
software installed, you should install one as soon as
possible (ASAP), and be sure to check software makers'
sites for virus alerts, updates and patches. There are
many free virus
programs for you to use, so I don't have the money is
no excuse.
If you happen receive a virus from someone,
please be sure to inform them of it. Because they may
have done so unknowingly and may not know their computer
has a email virus. Remember to come back to WebTechGeek.com
for more computer help.
E-mail hoax takes the form of a notice of a 'technical update' notice at "Bank" and asks that you reactivate your account by logging into it using the link provided. This is a cloaked (disguised) link which leads to a number of forged web pages.
E-mails claim to carry Microsoft security patches as attached files. Others direct recipients to a website to download an MS security update. If you receive any email that claims to carry a Microsoft patch or security
upgrade or asks you to visit a website to download a patch, treat it with
extreme caution. Microsoft does not send security patches via email. Remember to come back to WebTechGeek.com
for more How To's.
The Tips:
1. You should remember to never open files
that end with a .vbs, .cmd, .exe, .shs, .pif, .zip, .xls, .ppt, or .JS extension, or any attachments. These are the most common files that you may run into
every day, but they could be harboring a virus. These are
files that a typical user would never have a reason to
open. You should be careful with all email file attachments!
2. Expect the worst when you receive unexpected
email messages from people. "I love you" emails
and "here's your pictures" emails from someone
you don't know should be deleted. This is an old email
virus trick.
3. You should ask yourself, "If I don't
know what the file is or what it does, then why am I opening
it?"
4. You can open attachments that you are
expecting, but be suspicious of those you aren't. Better,
use your virus program to scan for viruses before you
open attachments. Remember to come back to WebTechGeek.com
for more How To's.
5. Do not open attachments in unsolicited commercial (SPAM) e-mails, and do not click on
hyperlinks contained in these advertisements.
6. Spam e-mail sometimes have viruses. So don't try, don't buy and don't reply to spam. Just delete it. It's a great way to prevent receiving more spam in the future.
7. Always scan all files you download from the Internet. If you don't have a virus program installed
on your computer then download one now here.
8. Once you install the antivirus software, update the virus definitions frequently. Most AV software can be set to do this automatically. Or you can download the definitions from the vendor's web site.
9. Install a firewall: A firewall won't prevent you from getting infected with a virus, but if you do
become infected, a firewall may prevent it from spreading to other computers. Windows XP has firewall software installed already. To enable
it, click the Start button, then go to "Help&Support" and search for "enable Internet Connection". Firewall.
10. Make back-up copies of important e-mail, documents and files, and store them on separate
CD-R Disc or diskettes. Making backups will also protect your information against accidental
file deletion, hard drive failure, and other damage.
Related: - Spyware page! - How to Stop unwanted email - How to Setup email filters! - How to Protect your computer from email viruses!
