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Tips
on Virus
Prevention
Top
10 ways to protect yourself from viruses
Courtesy of NAI AVERT Labs
- 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
.
- If you are in doubt about any potential
virus related situation you find yourself in, contact avert at one
of the locations listed here, click
here
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