Zyra's website //// site index //// Computers //// Virus Information and Misconceptions //// Examples of Viruses //// Advice

Anti-Virus Measures

* HOW TO AVOID GETTING A VIRUS IN YOUR COMPUTER *

As well as looking at the page of Anti-Virus software, there is an alternative way of looking at avoiding getting viruses. This page you are reading now is a FREE AntiVirus system, which you don't download into your computer. This anti-virus system is for loading into your own memory, as the methodology you understand will help to save your computer.

• If you are using Windows, set the "hide file extension" option to NOT HIDE file extensions. This simple method would have defeated the LOVE BUG virus, as it had a file with .txt.exe on the end. Similarly, files ending with .doc.com are to be considered suspicious and anything with .something.something-else needs a second look! (If anyone sends you one of these, don't accuse them - it's almost certainly not their fault. Their computer has been infected. Send them a polite message telling them, and if you don't get a reply, use the fax/phone and make sure they know!)
• When starting up a computer, make sure that there is no unintentional floppy disc in the drive. Also, don't have the option set to auto-run CDs.
• Never run an attachment on an e-mail unless you are sure it is not executable, (unless of course you know it is from a friend and you are sure that they intend it to be executable). In particular, never run tempting but anonymous items in an attempt to satisfy curiosity. To see examples of this, see the Rogues Gallery of suspicious e-mails. Attachments ending in .exe , .bat , .scr , .com , .pif , and a few others are executable and therefore a potential risk!
• When using the Internet on a dial-up phone connection, have a Charge Advice option set on your phone. That way, if anything attacks your dial-up system so it starts charging you a fortune for premium-rate services, you will know straight away.
• Include yourself in your address book. That way if you catch a virus (which will try to send to people in your address book) you'll probably get a message from yourself which you won't expect, giving rise to suspicion. Also, having friends in your address book aware of virus risks, may get you an early warning of any infection. Another method which is worth knowing about is... !000
• Don't allow ActiveX and cookies to run automatically with no safeguards. Much better to set them to "prompt". (See how to do this). It is especially important to stop ActiveX arriving in e-mails! If you receive ActiveX in e-mails or on sites that you are suspicious of, beware! (Also see ActiveX and other bad practices). This has become even more important now. ActiveX in an e-mail is almost always a virus. Don't allow it! Be aware of the problem of the Preview Pane. If you want to be able to receive silly spam messages and visit suspicious tempting sites such as the TERRAKT IN AUSTRALIA thing, then don't allow Active Scripting either!
• Keep several backups of everything, and if a virus is discovered, be very careful what you do with the backup material. You can even be paranoid.
• Remember that data lost as a result of deletion, some types of formatting, and even emptying of recycle bins IS NOT FINAL. Often it is possible to recover lost data by using some very clever techniques. To give yourself the best possible chance of these techniques working, if things go completely wrong and you think it's all lost, don't do anything - just turn it all off until it can be expertly and calmly examined. Data Recovery experts include such companies as ESS Data and Kroll Ontrack, and now Palmer and Xytron too. Miracle workers, but possibly expensive? Have a look and find out. But then again, your data is worth it, isn't that right?
• Consider some antivirus software but remember that although it will help, it won't make you immune to viruses. Even if your antivirus software says "No virus found", if the attachment is a .exe , it's almost certainly a virus!
• Windows95/98 when it was still supported was better than Windows2000/NT/XPire/Vista at virus-avoidance because it couldn't catch things like the Red Worm. LINUX is better still, partly because it's Unix and a lot of this "virus" stuff has been dealt with a long time before, and partly because of the better way bugs are dealt with (ie fixed), and also because Linux machines are not all the same as each other, which makes them more difficult to attack.
• Be aware that there are such things as the "sulfnbk virus" which is NOT a computer virus but is a hoax which spreads like a virus because of people being urged to forward the virus warning message. (The warning about "jdbgmgr.exe" is a similar hoax, with such things as deleting a teddy bear etc, and so is the pavlo 88 message). Any message with "tell everyone in your address book" should be considered carefully (see chain letters) and if in doubt, key phrases looked up on a search engine to see what reports there are about the situation. Reports should be checked too! Those at Norton, McAfee, Kaspersky, etc can be assumed quite reliable.
• Remember that if someone sends unsolicited a free screensaver or a free virus executable tool, they are at very best recklessly irresponsible, and at worst virus-sending culprits! e-mail Postcards from people you don't know, are often spam and are sometimes viruses.
• Messages apparently from banks aren't real. See bank hoax
• It's worth knowing about some of the well-known titles and types which are known viruses, and to check for them. For example, shaking friends screensaver, anything with "goldfish" in the subject line, and any very brief messages that just say "check the attach". Also see Rogues Gallery of Suspicious e-mails and the examples of viruses
• Also be aware of a particularly nasty trick where a message arrives pretending to be an official virus warning from Microsoft and imploring you to run a .exe file in an attachment. DON'T! See Microsoft Message hoax!
• Similarly, warnings about viruses such as Klez-E claiming to contain a cure for it, have to be considered as they can often be the virus themselves. More about the ridiculous Klez E hoax here.
• Viruses are also sometimes disguised as "Mail returned" messages which pretend to be regarding items you have sent, or are supposed to be horrified about as you have not sent them. See Mail-Returned virus messages. This can easily be defeated by knowing what you have sent and/or having separate send and receive addresses. Again, don't run the attachments.
• A Virus or no Virus? That isn't the end of the story, as a computer can be infested with something that's not officially "a virus" and yet is still a nuisance. See SPYWARE and how to eliminate it. Also, don't let someone control your browser default homepage! See how to define your own homepage

This page is to be considered like the safety advert on television where you see how to put a wet tea-towel over a flaming chip pan. The advice is useful, and you don't have to learn it all, but just think about it, as even some of these simple things could save you a lot of trouble. Only time and experience will tell whether it's too late to save your chips.

This advice-based antivirus system is being continuously adapted to defend against new problems. If you've ever been attacked by a virus and can help others learn how they can be defended against it, please e-mail here

Readers of printed copies of this page please note that it can be found online at www.zyra.org.uk/avirus.htm

If your computer caught a virus and sent it to me before 2002/08/05 I would have most likely sent you my Anti-Virus Letter. Not anymore though! Not since... read it and find out