From time to time, well-meaning friends may email you a warning of a virus. DON’T just forward the message on to everyone you know! Most of these messages are hoaxes, designed simply to cause unnecessary alarm — and to deaden recipients to real warnings. Always check against a reputable list of hoaxes: Symantec have one; there are others too.
What’s all the fuss about?
Software, often delivered by email, which you unwittingly load and run. The effects of a virus or worm are generally detrimental, and usually include mailing itself to everyone in your address book.
Is that all?
No! For example many worms open a “back door” into your PC so that someone else can see your keystrokes (like when you type a password); read your files and data; and generally abuse your machine.
Viruses? Worms? What?
There are a number of subtly different types of malicious software.
Virus: a program which carries a malicious payload, like deleting everything on your hard disk, and which can replicate itself and spread to other machines. Can be spread by email, or by finding unprotected PCs attached to a network, like the internet.
Worm: like a virus, but which may also send information about you or your machine back to its author. It might also open a “back door” into your PC so that its author can access your data.
Trojan: a program you knowingly install because it does something you want, but which also contains malicious code which you may not know about. (From the Trojan Horse legend)
What should I do now?
Don’t panic! Install reputable anti-virus software. You can buy this (Norton Anti-Virus, for example, although there are others as well), or you can download free software from the internet. One of the most popular is AVG Antivirus.
Set it up so that it scans your email as you collect it. Some will also scan outgoing email, too.
Don’t forget to scan CDs or floppy disks before running any software on them. Make sure your CD drive doesn’t automatically start software on a CD when you insert one.
Update anti-virus software regularly! The software works by comparing files in your email or on a disk to a list of known viruses. If you receive a new virus, the software may not be able to detect it. Anti-virus software manufacturers release new definition files regularly, and usually as soon as a major threat becomes known.
Get the software to scan your system completely every so often, just to be on the safe side.
If you use an email program which allows you to have a “preview window” (where each message is shown without you having to explicitly open it), turn the facility off. Messages which are displayed in a preview window are opened and run for you — you don’t get the chance of a final check of the message list. Although the preview is convenient, having to double-click a message to read it is no hardship when compared to the hassle of disinfecting your machine!
Common advice is not to open an email which has come from an unusual or unknown source and which has an attachment. Delete it unread. If you know the source, email them back and ask them to re-send it. NEVER EVER accept any email purporting to come from Microsoft as genuine. Microsoft DO NOT EMAIL UPDATES.
Users of Windows PCs should also make sure they visit the Windows update site regularly and install security updates. Many viruses or worms exploit holes in the security of Windows, or Outlook Express (probably the most popular email software). Installing security updates will plug the holes. Many viruses and worms generally exploit security problems for which fixes have been available for some months. If you use another email program, check with its manufacturer’s website for updates.
Is it just Windows PCs?
No. Macintosh computers are less susceptible to malicious software, because most of it is written for the more common Windows PCs. But don’t get complacent! You might get a virus which is explicitly targeted at Macintoshes. All of the above (including the security updates which you can download) applies to Macintosh users, too.
So far, the number of viruses targeting Linux machines or others running Unix and less-common operating systems is even lower. However, anti-virus tools exist for these systems and OS updates are also issued from time to time.
I’ve read everything and I don’t understand...
Don’t be afraid to ask for advice. Most anti-virus software comes with a manual which is designed to be read by people who know they need the software but don’t necessarily understand it. You may know someone who is knowledgeable whom you can ask. You could even join a mailing list like Christians on the Internet, where lots of advice may be obtained.
The panel is fed from Symantec’s website as a service to users within the Diocese of Chichester and elsewhere. For full details see Use this feed. There are other annti-virus products as well as Norton Anti-Virus and AVG. The Diocese of Chichester does not necessarily endorse either of these products, which are provided as examples, or the products offered within the panel. No responsibility will be accepted by the Bishop's Council or the paid or volunteer staff of the Diocese of Chichester for the consequences of using any software mentioned on or available from this page.