Horizon Computers
3136 Bird Dr., Suite A
Ravenna, Ohio 44266
330-296-3439
1-800-297-9875
© 1999 Horizon Computer Seminars All Rights Reserved
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Update Your Anti Virus ProgramLately, I have found a rash of clients having computer problems. The problems were anything from corrupted Windows files to unwanted messages popping up on their computer screens. The corrupted Windows files were so numerous in some cases that the computers were practically inoperable. What were their problems? Viruses!!! In each case their virus problem could have been avoided, and in each case their computers had a virus protection program, but they were never updated. There are over 47,000 different viruses existing today, and new viruses are being developed hackers everyday. What is a virus anyway? It is a computer program written by an ill-intentioned programmer. It may also be loosely defined as a program code that replicates itself on execution and created undesirable, and destructible effects to a computer. The likelihood that your PC will bet by a virus increases immeasurably if you access the Internet, swap files on a floppy disk with a friend, exchange files via e-mail or are hooked up to a network. Virtually every virus tries to do one thing first: spread to other programs and files on your hard disk. When you boot up from an infected disk, open an infected file or run an infected software program, the virus's code is copied into your PC's memory. From there the code usually attempts to attach itself to other files. The rogue code can alter your data file content, cause software program crashes, display annoying screen messages, degrade system performance or even destroy all of your hard disk files. There are viruses that can detect your E-mail program, then compose and send E-mail messages. A virus can even send E-mail messages to each person on your mailing list. These rogue virus codes can spread very fast, working in the background without your knowledge. Viruses can spread even faster if your computers are connected to a network. Since files on a network travel to each computer constantly, a company with say, as an example, 25 computers could be infected in less than an hour. Sometimes the damage can be so bad that all data on the hard drive is not accessible. If this would be the case, you would have to format your hard Drive (wipe all data from the disk), and re-install your Windows operating system, your software program, and all your recently backed up files. This could be quite time consuming. So, what can you do if you discover or think there is a virus on your computer? Buy the newest version of an Anti-Virus Protection software program. That program might be Symantec's Norton Antivirus 2000 priced under $30.00 . Insert the floppy disk from that program into your floppy disk drive, and boot up your computer. It will check each and every file on your computer for any known viruses. This might take 30 minutes or more to complete. The program will notify you if it finds any known viruses. In some cases though the virus may be so new that it can't be detected. The next step is to install the anti-virus software from the CD. Once the software is installed, dial in to the Internet, then open your anti-virus software program and select Updates from it's menu. It will automatically go to Symantec's Web site and then you can download the latest anti-virus updates. The updates will be installed for you automatically. You can avoid almost all problems with viruses by installing the latest Anti-Virus software program, and then updating it every 14 days. This is your best protection to keep you worry free. The following companies provide antivirus protection software: McCaffee, Personal Firewall at http://www.mcafee.com Symantec, Norton Internet Security 2000 at http://www.symantec.com
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Horizon Computers 3136 Bird Dr., Suite A Ravenna, Ohio 44266 330-296-3439 1-800-297-9875 © 1999 Horizon Computer Seminars All Rights Reserved
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