Nine Ways to Protect Yourself
- 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 antivirus 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 antivirus 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.
(Courtesy McAfee)
