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There are over 48,000 viruses in circulation today. Many are harmless, but the few that can cause harm will destroy data in seconds.
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| One of the most common ways to get a computer virus is to receive an infected file (such as an EXE or COM file, or a Microsoft Word document or Excel spreadsheet) through file sharing, by downloading it off the Internet, or as an attachment in an email message. Another way is by booting from an infected diskette. Symptoms of a virus attack can include: Blank screen, Strange and unpredictable behavior, file corruption or an error message stating "File Not Found" Proper use and configuration of a good anti-virus package and internet file blocking software can prevent most virus attacks. Be sure to obtain software from reputable sources and scan all incoming data, including packaged software, and e-mails for viruses. If you do contract a virus - don't panic! Resist the urge to reformat or erase everything in sight. Write down everything you do in the order that you do it. This will help you to be thorough and not duplicate your efforts. Your main focus will be to contain the virus, so it does not spread elsewhere, and then to eradicate it. If you work in a networked environment, where you share information and resources with others, let others know. If you have a system administrator, tell them what has happened. It is possible that the virus has infected more than one machine in your workgroup or organization. Once you have contained the virus, you will need to disinfect your system, and then work carefully to deal with any problems beyond your system itself. For example, you should meticulously and methodically look at your system backups, and any removable media that you use. |
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