Help Keep The Computers On Earth Clean And Healthy

by: Jesse S. Somer
“Aaaaaahhhhhh! I’ve been invaded by a virus!” Getting a virus means getting sick and no one in
their right mind wants to be ill. Well, now that computers have become our close friends, it’s a
shock to learn that foreign bodies too can invade them with malicious intent. No, your computer
doesn’t get a runny nose or diarrhea. This is a sickness that stops your friend from functioning
properly, sick in bed, incapacitated.

Well in Nature viruses occur from a power outside of our control. But, with computers it’s
different, humans, mean or ignorant humans are creating these viruses. Why? Usually these are
disgruntled people who want to wreak some havoc on others or companies that they feel have done
wrong to them. In any case we have to be in the know and prepared to deal with these debilitating
scourges.

There are many ways to approach the protection of your computer. First of all there’s the step of
awareness. Be aware of how viruses are transmitted. You can catch them from a disc but in most
cases it is through your email system. Check your email carefully. Be very wary of anything that
has an attachment. Check whom it’s from and look at the title of the mail, is it something you
were expecting? Even if it’s from someone you know, be careful as their computer could be infected
and the virus being transmitted without their knowledge.

Next, read the cover message, you can’t catch the disease without actually opening the message.
Look at the name of the attachment; remember viruses are written to entice you. Beware of free
offers and generally anything from people you don’t know, as well as messages that sound
irrelevant to your contact’s usual style. Delete them straight away. Delete, delete, delete. This
will ensure you of a lower risk of infection. You can even send the message back to the sender
without opening it to make sure it is valid.

Now for the heavy protection: Virus scanning and virus protection software, and rescue discs are
all readily available and easily utilized. Some are free, and others are obtained for a very small
charge. Most software manufacturers offer subscriptions for updating services, which automatically
download protection to the latest viruses.

There are two main types of virus scanning software: one searches through your entire computer
files looking for recognizable viral signatures, the other scans your incoming and outgoing
emails. Alerts will show you when a file needs to be erased or repaired. If you do receive a virus
that none of the software can repair you can send a copy of it to a company like Symantec who will
be happy to develop a cure for it.

The main message here is not to get too worried about your good friend Mrs. PC getting ill or
sick. The humans are on top of the case and they seem much better adapted at fixing their
technology than they are at beating the viruses that attack our physical bodies. If only we could
cure human virus and illness as easily as we solve the problem of computer sickness.

About the author:
Jesse S. Somer
M6.Net
http://www.m6.net
Jesse S. Somer is an analyst hoping to show fellow humans how far the computer age has come in
terms of its strengths and weaknesses.


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