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If you don't have it, you're infected!

PLEASE, install virus protection on your computer. ANYTHING is better than nothing, as long as you keep it up to date. As is my tradition, I'm providing you with links to FREE virus protection.

If you think you have a virus

First of all, DONT PANIC. Most viruses don't destroy your data.
Second of all, download Stinger from Network Associates Inc. on to A KNOWN DISINFECTED MACHINE, put it on a floppy, write-protect the floppy (move the magnet in the corner to the other position), put the floppy in the suspect machine, and run stinger.exe. you might get some minor errors from running it on the write-protected floppy, but it will keep the virus from deleting stinger. Stinger will kill the virus and allow you to install a full-time virus protection program.

Want a FREE virus scanner?

AVG offers a free (for home users) virus scanning program. it doesn't include any support, but you should try it out. It's far better than nothing.

Best practices

Remember, the best prevention is abstience; don't download viruses or suspicious files in the first place! Your ISP (Internet Service Provider such as AOL) will NEVER send you an attachment. I promise. They will instead send you a link to their website, where you can get the file. Make sure it's actually their website, too--AOL.com and AO1.com look about the same in lowercase. Always run your virus scanner on anything you download from the internet, be it an attachment, game demo, or whatever. Pretend it's a bulky, ticking package held together with duct tape and left on your front porch--don't open it if you don't need to, but if you do, be VERY careful. A good idea is to e-mail or phone the person who sent it to you and verify that they sent the file to you.

Virus Hoaxes: Don't believe everything you read

So many people forward e-mails about outrageous virus hoaxes, even when copies of these e-mails are on all the major antivirus company websites. 5 minutes of research before you forward something would be a good thing. But sometimes there are real viruses that get forwarded as well, and infect other people. Or worms infect computers that dont have their vulnerabilities patched from Windows Update. So I've gotten some live feeds of info: top viruses, latest virus alerts, and virus hoaxes. If that e-mail alert identifies one of the real viruses, include a link to the Norton, Sophos, or Mcafee virus "cure" page when you forward it. and if it's a virus hoax, which it probably is, include a link to the virus hoax page from one of those sites, and send it back to the sender telling them politely to check their facts before they forward.

Step 3: Spyware