Curiosity kills the cat!
Yes, most of us are curious what's inside the attachments sent to us by friends or
even unknown people. However, it is precisely this weakness of ours that
virus programmers are exploiting to help propagate their mischief. Viruses can be
sent to you by anybody - even from friends and people whom you least suspect. The
subject headers of the eMail may sound legitimate, the content of the eMail may sound
legitimate but always check the attachments before you open them. As a general
rule, NEVER open any attachments [unless you are very sure what it is] with the
following final extensions:
anything.bat
anything.com
anything.exe
anything.pif
anything.scr
Sometimes they may they hide themselves further using double extensions to try to
deceive you that its a document. But the FINAL extension reveals its intention,
e.g.
proposal.doc.bat
globalisation.html.com
finance.xls.exe
picture.jpg.pif
elvis.mp3.scr
Preventing Viruses
There is only one way to stop viruses from entering your computer, i.e. not to turn
it on. If you cannot do this, here's what you can do to minimise your
vulnerability...
- BACKUP your data files as often as you can -- at least once a
month (weekly would be ideal if you have the time). This is the ONLY effective
protection that I know at the moment.
- Install an anti-virus programme and UPDATE them regularly -- at
least once a month. I have listed below some places where you can obtain
anti-virus programmes for free.
- SCAN all disketts before accessing them.
- NEVER OPEN attached files in your eMail that have the following final extensions:
.bat, .com, .exe, .pif,
.scr -- Doesn't matter who sent the file and what the subject is and
what the content is!
If you have been infected, we have collected some of the anti-virus programmes to
help you clean your computer. It may be a good idea to run these tests on your computer
anyway, just in case... They are not exhaustive but we start with a list that have been
coming into our eMail boxes.
For those of you who are using Windoze ME, XP or 2000 must remember to disable
System Restore feature of these operating systems to prevent your computer from
re-infection with the purged virus. Otherwise, this "smart" windoze function will
restore the bug from their auto-backup copy!
Some good and free anti-virus programmes
| www.grisoft.com Probably
one of the best freeware anti-virus utility that also offers you free monthly
updates. An easy-to-use program, AVG features resident protection, an eMail
scanner and automatic healing of infected files. Download a freeware copy from
http://free.grisoft.com
Grisoft also donates commercial level anti-virus programmes to non-profit
organisations. These donated licences are for multiple computer use. Write
to them to inquire. |
| www.vcatch.com VCatch is a
new, free tool, developed to protect your computer from web viruses. Works with
many POP eMail applications, Web based eMail, ICQ, or one of the new file-sharing
programs (Napster, Gnutella etc.).
It is a virus protection software. When VCatch is active it will check all the
files sent or downloaded to your computer via eMail and Web applications. In the
event that VCatch detects that a file is suspected to be a virus, the software
automatically deletes the file and notifies you.
VCatch supports the following eMail programs: Microsoft Outlook, Outlook
Express, Eudora and Netscape Messenger. In Addition, VCatch protects your
computer from viruses downloaded using Internet Explorer or Netscape Navigator
web browsers, files sent to your computer by ICQ, and files downloaded using
popular file-sharing software such as Napster, iMesh and Gnutella.
VCatch has a unique automatic update mechanism. When a new virus is detected
in the Net, VCatch automatically updates its virus definitions list in your
computer. So once you install VCatch, you don't have to do anything else to be
constantly protected.
VCatch was designed to use as little computer resources as possible. The
software is very small and uses your computers resources only when one of the
applications listed above is running. |
| |
HOAX virus
Having said that, there are also HOAX virus - meaning that they are
not real virus but they can cause you to self-inflict damages to your computer.
These hoaxes usually arrive in the form of an email. Please disregard the hoax emails -
they contain bogus warnings usually intent only on frightening or misleading users. The
best course of action is to merely delete these hoax emails and NOT forward it to your
long list of friends. If you are not sure whether the virus is a HOAX, whenever you
receive what appears to be a bogus message regarding a new virus, or promotion that
sounds too good to be true, check it out the following sites:
http://www.nonprofit.net/hoax/default.htm
http://www.symantec.com/avcenter/hoax.html.
http://www.vmyths.com/
http://hoaxbusters.ciac.org/HBOtherHoaxPages.html
Below are some examples of HOAX virus.
SULFNBK.EXE HOAX
If you get an email about the SULFNBK.EXE file being a virus, this is a HOAX!
Sulfnk.exe is part of Windows95/98/ME. It's used for long-filename support. It's not a
critical file, but you do want it.
JDBGMGR.EXE HOAX
If you get an email about the JDBGMGR.EXE file being a virus, this is a HOAX!
Jdbgmgr.exe is part of Windows95/98/ME. It's a Microsoft Java debugger program.
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