Consistently, one of the major areas of computer repairs and support is virus problems.
Here are a few suggestions:
- Never open an attachment that you don't expect, even if it's from someone you know. Most viruses come from people you know without them ever knowing the email was sent; that's where the virus gets your email address.
- Never open attachments that end in SCR, BAT, PIF, EXE.
- Make sure you update your anti-virus software at least every 2 weeks; more often is strongly recommended. If you haven't updated this month, you really don't have a valid anti-virus program.
- Don't forward virus warnings that you receive from friends; they aren't real and simply keep people from paying attention to real virus problems. Believe me; Microsoft or AOL have never "announced yesterday" about any virus! For information on virus hoaxes, click here.
- If you don't have anti-virus software, you're endangering your own computer and that of everyone you have in your address book or inbox. It's worth the cost. You really don't want to have to pay me (or anyone else) to clean it up for you. It'll cost you more than buying the program in the first place.
- If you have a virus, you may be able to clean it online (click here) and then install updated anti-virus software. Many viruses disable your anti-virus software to keep you from updating it, so you'll have get rid of the virus before you can install anti-virus software or update the anti-virus program already installed.
