Computer viruses, like the viruses we humans get, can get inside computer systems, replicate themselves and spread to other computer systems. In this episode, we learn how to protect ourselves from viruses, and what to do if you think you have one.
Guests
Phil Kachelmyer
Phil Kachelmyer
Phil Kachelmyer is the director of University Computer Services at the University of Minnesota, Twin Cities Campus. He has been working with computers since 1969 and has been at the University of Minnesota since 1978.
Dr. Jon Hallberg
Dr. Jon Hallberg
Dr. Hallberg is a is University of Minnesota Family Practice physician.
For Your Files
Phil offered us some things to consider when choosing anti-virus software:
“An automatic update feature [is necessary]. Something that will go out on a regular basis, even more often than once a month—preferably once a week; preferably even better than that if it can. There are some of the new viruses that come out that these programs can detect without even knowing about them ahead of time which is an additional feature to look for in an anti-virus program—something that doesn’t need a specific definition in the file to be able to identify the virus.”
“Another very useful feature is something that runs in the background. They might call it, continuous checking, the different vendors call it by different names, but something that is running constantly on the machine, checking for new viruses to be coming in so that instead of getting the virus on the machine and two or three days later running the anti-virus program and finding it, you’ve got this program that is looking for the viruses, catching them as they come in the machine and then clamping them down and not allowing them to even start. ”
Phil also advised us on how to prevent our computers from becoming contaminated:
“One is to be careful of what Web sites you visit, what people that you associate with, [and] where you get files from. Don’t exchange floppies with people unless you are absolutely certain that you’re getting files that are not infected. Probably the best method is to have a good anti-virus program on your machine—something that can catch these things even if you inadvertently get one on your machine.”
Phil mentioned disabling Windows Script Host (WSH) can help protect your computer from certain viruses that take advantage of WSH's ability to run automated tasks. Instructions for disabling WSH can be found on Sophos's Web site (http://www.sophos.com/support/faqs/wsh.html). If you have a Macintosh computer or Windows XP, you don't need to disable WSH.
We discussed anti-virus software from Symantec, Sophos, McAfee and Command. We also looked at the hoax site Vmyths.com.
Virus-by-Number
A Web site where a user can create a custom virus. A user who doesn't have any programming knowledge can choose the attributes
of the virus and a name, and send it out over the Internet.
Anti-virus Program
Computer software that identifies and removes known or potential
viruses.
Automatic Update
A feature that allows anti-virus software to retrieve information
about new viruses. When the updated software scans your computer, newer viruses will be detected.
Virus Hoax
False information about a virus, usually in e-mail form. Hoax
e-mails encourage the receiver to forward the e-mail, spreading
the false information in a virus-like fashion.
Script
An Internet program that can be built into Web pages. Some scripts
can download a virus onto your computer without your knowledge.