What are computer viruses or worms?
Computer viruses and worms are computer programs that are designed to
harmfully impact the way your computer works without your knowledge or
permission. These malicious computer programs are pieces of programming code
that usually comes from the Internet or via e-mail and 'infect' your computer or
system. Once your computer becomes infected, the virus/worm can spread and do
damage to your operating system, your program files, and data and infect other
people in your e-mail address book
How does my computer get a viruses?
Viruses maybe sent to your computer through file sharing, e-mail or downloads
from the Internet. The virus program code becomes activated when you open the
infected file, boot the computer with and infected disk, or use an infected
floppy disk or by 'clicking' on an infected program file sent as an attachment.
When a computer becomes infected by an e-mail attachment, it can be spread to
other users that are in your e-mail address book. Some of the more widely known
viruses and worms, such as KLEZ, "I Love You' and Code red viruses started as an
e-mail attachment. Clicking on the attachment to view it can launch the
propagation of the computer virus.
How can I prevent virus infections?
It is strongly suggested that you do not open e-mail attachments from an
unknown sender.
Another way to protect your computer is to install anti-virus software.
Hofstra University provides Anti-Virus software for all computers connected to
the Hofstra computer network. In addition, members of the Hofstra community can
download a free copy of McAfee VirusScan 8.0
Enterprise Edition software.
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Download
&
Installation Instructions |
Download
free copy of
McAfee VirusScan 8.5
Enterprise Edition |
McAfee
End User Agreement |
Important tips to keep
in mind about computer viruses:
- Some signs of virus
infection: a program or file is suddenly missing; an unusual message or
graphics is displayed; size of a file changes without explanation; a
program or file does not work as expected.
- Be sure to install
anti-virus software on your computer and keep the virus signature files
up-to-date. Once a new virus is introduced, the anti-virus program
identifies the virus through a virus signature. By setting the anti-virus
program to update the virus signatures automatically, you can prevent
virus infections.
- Make a bootable
recovery disk to restart your computer in case it becomes infected. Be
sure the recovery disk is write-protected by sliding the write protection
tab to the top of the disk.
- Never open an e-mail
attachment without scanning it first. You can perform this task by
changing this setting in the McAfee virus preferences.
- Set your anti-virus
software to check all downloads from the Internet for viruses.
- Backup your files
frequently.
- Keep informed about
current viruses at
http://www.mcafee.com/anti-virus and virus 'hoaxes' at
http://vil.mcafee.com/hoax.asp
Some other useful web
sites about computer viruses:
How Computer Viruses
Work
http://www.howstuffworks.com/virus.htm
Current threats and
virus information
http://www.mcafee.com/anti-virus
McAfee web site
http://www.mcafee.com
Virus Hoaxes
http://vil.mcafee.com/hoax.asp
AVP Virus Encyclopedia
http://www.avp.ch/avpve
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