Protecting Oneself From a Computer Virus

Floppy Viruses Myths E-Mail Viruses More

A SIMPLE BUT VERY EFFECTIVE PC PROTECTION PLAN The best advice is to avoid being infected by a virus.   Basically do what your mom told you when you were a kid, "don't take candy from strangers."   The best protection is knowledge.   Know who is sending you something and why they are sending it to you.  Then support this practice with industry proven antivirus software.

Floppy Viruses Always, always assume that a floppy diskette given to you from someone else could have a virus.  When a floppy disk is introduced to your area, bring it to a PC with the latest anti-virus software and scan the floppy for viruses. Viruses can proliferate undetected attaching itself to every floppy inserted into the PC.  Keep floppy disks write protected until needed.  E-Mail Viruses (attachments) Never accept a file attached to an e-mail from people you don't know (and, of course, some you do know).  Delete the messages without opening the files.  If you think you may be interested in the information, ask them to send it as part of the body of the message and not as an attached file.  An e-mail message itself can do no harm.  It is ASCII text or hypertext information and will not run anything.  However, not so with attachments.  They can be executable programs that CAN cause serious problems, hard-drive mischief or just be a nuisance.  Widespread Virus Myths Stiller.com More Details Antivirus.about.com