Good advice to avoid viruses

Computer Viruses are some of the most damaging dangers on the Net. Every day there are reports of hundreds of new types all over the world and there seems to be little we can do to stop them. The noted writer Arthur C. Clarke has even advocated the death penalty for the hackers that write them, due to their destructiveness. You can protect yourself by downloading expensive anti virus programs, firewalls, etc. and remember to constantly update them. A check list detailing the best ways to protect yourself can be found below:

Good Advice:

	Use an Anti-virus software, and update it at least once a month
	DO NOT (repeat - DO NOT!) open unknown files, remove all configurations that open attachments automatically
	Do not open files with file extensions such as ".vbs", ".exe" or ".vbe" without first checking what EXACTLY that file contains.
	Be careful about downloading unknown programs
	Be careful about visiting unknown pages on the Net (See Surf Anonymously)
	Be careful about opening unknown e-mail attachments from people you know.
	Double check if something looks suspicious, trust me…it´s worth it.
	Avoid hacked versions of programs
	Use only Disks, CDs and DVDs that have been checked for viruses

Remember to do frequent back ups on an EXTERNAL medium, such as a CD-R or a Zip Drive. This will facilitate piecing together all your data in the event that you suffer a virus attack.

  Categories of viruses

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