Virus Info
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There is a constant stream of viruses threatening to do everything from stealing your passwords to destroying your computer. We must all keep our guard up and help one another be aware of what these threats are and how we can keep from getting nailed by them. The BIGGEST thing any of us can do on IRC is to NOT accept files from unknown people and NEVER accept or open executable files. On IRC it is also very unwise to accept any kind of .ini file from anyone unless you know for a fact that it was written by that person and is unquestionably safe. Many of the problems arrive in emails. The same rules apply for email as do for IRC. Even if your brother sent you that cute "christmastree.exe" doesn't make it safe. There could be an ugly Trojan horse riding inside of it that will one day awaken and destroy everything you've worked so hard to put together. I suggest you follow my lead and accept .exe files from NO ONE! Obtain and use a good antivirus program. I recommend Symantec/Norton and my preference is the System Works package because it not only brings you the antivirus but it also gives you good tools to keep your computer tuned up and running the way it should (Don't load 'Crash Guard' from the 2000 and earlier packages). Once you have a good antivirus program installed, you MUST get virus definition updates for it. Those usually come out about once a week now days so if you wait, you are leaving the gate open for the new critters to come into your life. These are a few links that I have found very helpful along with some of the viruses that are common and destructive: Symantec/Norton Antivirus
Research Center: Download Norton Antivirus
definitions: W95.MTX (very nasty
on your computer corrupting system files) W32.Funlove.4099 (the most recent attack at work 11/7,8/2000) http://www.symantec.com/avcenter/venc/data/w32.funlove.4099.html Wscript.KakWorm
(extremely common in email these days) Disable MSWindows
Scripting host: Uninstalling Windows
Scripting host: Virus Encyclopedia:
Virus Hoaxes:
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