Update, Update, Update

The holiday season is upon us once again and, while most of us enjoy the festivities and the company of our friends, there is a segment of our fellow man who's contribution is to try to make things just a little bit worse than they really are. These are the virus writers and they take pleasure in ruining things for folks they don't even know. The good news, is that you don't have to be infected with their garbage. If I sound ticked off, that's because I am.

The best way to win this game is simply not to play. Have a good antivirus program and make sure it's always up to date. Antivirus companies are usually very good at finding solutions for these viruses, and usually very quickly, but all their work does no good if you haven't updated your antivirus definitions. So, check the title of this item again. Remember, if you haven't taken precautions and you get infected with a virus, there are virus removal tools available for free from all major antivirus companies. It's also a good idea to create a snapshot of your system, after you have insured it's virus free, using the system restore programs found in Windows. In XP, this is found as follows: Start, All Programs, Accessories. System Tools, and finally System Restore. Your Windows version may be slightly different but it's worth locating this program and using it.

Another important thing to remember. Don't open any attachment from anyone you don't know. It could be anything and opening the item is a sure way to find out. Even if the item comes from someone you do know, it's always a good idea to screen the item before opening it with your antivirus program and to make sure the sender was really the person you know. Remember that the sender (your friend) may not even know that the message contains a virus unless he also has screened it. Some viruses are forwarded because part of the virus program pulls names and email addresses from your address book and automatically sends itself to every email address found without you knowing it. So be kind to your friends. It's as easy for them to be a victim as it is for you. If you should get something nasty from them, let them know gently that they have unwittingly been used and advise them about the offending item so they can delete it and clean their system. Be prepared to do the same for them if you unknowingly become the bad guy and send something along to your friends.

Caution, security and understanding are the secrets of a happy online holiday season. Be part of the joy!

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