virus

A software program that replicates on computer systems by incorporating itself into shared programs. Viruses range from harmless pranks that merely display an annoying message to programs that can destroy files or disable a computer altogether. Whether they're considered malicious or malevolent, all viruses spread rapidly. For example, from one computer to millions of others around the world, infecting machines and causing them to crash. Some well-known examples include the "I Love You" virus, code red, and NIMDA.

Viruses are most commonly transmitted through e-mail; "strains" have appeared that use personal e-mail address books to propagate themselves from machine to machine. If you are connected to the Internet or any other network, it is important that you take precautions against viruses. Get a virus-scanning program and do not open any e-mail attachments from people you do not know.

One tech support woman told me, "It may sound silly but get in the habit of scanning your computer from your anti-virus software's Web site because sometimes malware can hide but if you do it from their Web site it can't hide."

VIRUS TIP: To avoid spreading computer viruses via e-mail, create a contact in your e-mail address book with the name !0000 (an exclamation mark and four zeros) and no e-mail address in the details. This contact will then show up as your first contact. If a virus attempts to do a "send all" to your contact list, your computer will put up an error message saying, "The message could not be sent. One or more recipients do not have an e-mail address. Please check your address book and make sure all the recipients have a valid e-mail address." The offending message (with the virus) may then be automatically stored in your Drafts or Outbox folder. Go in there and delete the offending message. (This is not a substitute for virus protection software, and it will not protect you from getting a virus, but it will prevent your computer from sending the virus to everyone on your contact list. Note: This trick may not work on AOL.)

Do Macs get viruses? Yes, but not nearly as much...check out the informative link below. For more info on viruses, click on the "more info" button below!