05/01/99

Computer Viruses -- Who's Afraid?

For the purposes of this column, personal computer users the world over can be divided into two groups: 1. Those who are in relative danger of having viruses and worms and such destroy their computers, their sanity and their lives; and 2. Those who are not. Those smug folk in the second group will read on hoping only to triumphantly catch me in error. They are:

• Unix users. There are relatively few Unix viruses, and Unix users who run across them are more likely to treat them as pets than as pestilence. (Note that we are talking about PERSONAL, desktop computers here.)
• Macintosh users. There are also relatively few Macintosh viruses, just a handful compared to the hordes that plague the Windows world. This has to do more with the psychology of virus writers than anything else – why write something that can only afflict 10 percent of all users, when with Windows you can shoot for global annihilation?
• Experienced Windows users. Experienced Windows users are aware of viruses and take steps to minimize their exposure. They also don’t care a lot if they get one, because they’re used to buggy software. They routinely wipe out their own hard drives and start fresh, just as though they’d been hit by an especially bad computer virus.

1. Back up or keep copies of critical files. These files are:
   • All document and personal files. Your word processor stuff.
     
   • Graphics and digital images you don’t want to lose.
     
   • Your address book and email files.
     
   • Your Internet bookmark files.
   
   

2. Do not open files that are attached to email messages unless you are completely sure they are safe. Even then, beware. No one needs to send you a document in Microsoft Word format. They could just send the text in email, couldn’t they? Encourage this behavior in your friends.
3. Don’t put strange floppy disks into your computer unless they have been scanned for viruses. By “strange,” I mean ANY floppy disk that has come into contact with any computer but your own.
4. Exercise some prudence regarding files available on the Internet. Software from major vendors and download sites can be considered to be virus-free, for all practical purposes. Everything is pre-scanned and (relatively) secure. But if you’re off the beaten path – well, consider that “Melissa” was originally launched through a newsgroup that catered to more prurient interests. ‘Nuff said.
5. If you don’t routinely use antivirus software, keep a relatively recent copy of it around, or make sure you have access to some. You never know when it might come in handy. We don’t recommend any particular package. McAfee, Norton and Dr. Solomon are some of the better-known names in the business, and web sites for their products and others can be found easily by entering “antivirus software download” in any major search engine.

Chances are, if you’re still reading for any but the most casual of reasons, you fall into or near one of these two groups:

1. The Beginning User: You’re on your first computer and you bought it in the last year or two. You can use your word processor pretty well, surf the ‘Net, send and receive email and play games … But you really don’t know how your computer works or what to do if it seems to be misbehaving. While your computer is useful and you’re glad you bought it, it’s also a major source of frustration in your life. You talk about it a lot, hoping someone within earshot will know the magic words that will give you mastery over your machine, or at least a larger clue set.
2. The Average User: You have a Pentium-powered computer or better, though it may be a couple of years old; or a 486 that has been upgraded somewhat over time. You have a decent-sized hard drive, but probably only one of them. You have a floppy disk drive and a CD ROM. You have no backup device or extra drive, and you’re really not sure exactly what files you should keep backed up if your computer melts down, anyway. If you have antivirus software at all, it probably came with the computer and is outdated. You are guiltily aware that you are living on the edge but you don’t talk about it except in bluff, hearty tones (“Been runnin’ pretty durn good with the new RAM, huh? No, Hon, they ALL make that noise.”) You also have no idea if your computer is Y2K compliant, or what will happen to it on Jan. 1 if it isn’t.

Please send questions or comments to web.editor@snet.net.