Krishna Before you go grab and install a security patch, you may want to get to know a few basic facts about it — where to get it, what it does, whether it’ll cost you, that sort of thing. Most software makers have this process figured out, more or less, even if they don’t collectively take … Read more
The big software programs that run on PCs today consist of thousands — and sometimes even millions — of lines of source code (the step-by-step instructions that give the program its functionality and personality). That’s a lot to keep track of — and (as with anything made by people) flaws can creep in. Software can … Read more
If suddenly the realization hits that it’s been more than a week since you updated your virus-signature file, you better scan your computer for viruses immediately — particularly if you’re the active type (lots of e-mail, file sharing, file swapping, opening mail from strangers, and other such cyber-exuberance). The more time that has gone by … Read more
Signature updates are your antivirus program’s ammunition. Without regular signature updates, your antivirus program quickly becomes dependent on unreliable ammo — which is to say, practically useless. Fortunately, getting the good new stuff is pretty straightforward, whether you do it manually or automatically. Manual updates Antivirus programs permit you to do signature file updates “on … Read more
Because computer viruses behave like viruses in the organic world (in the way that they infect and spread), it’s no wonder some medical terms crossed over into the computer world. For example, antivirus programs borrowed quarantine from hospitals, where it’s a secure place (and a set of procedures) intended to isolate patients with infectious diseases … Read more
Different antivirus programs have different ways of showing you when a virus is detected in an e-mail message. Some slip a note into the mail message, informing you that your program has removed a virus from a particular mail message. Others warn you with a pop-up window (not a browser pop-up, but one produced by … Read more
You may have seen a warning message that appeared to come from your antivirus program — and said it found a virus. First response: Separate fact from fiction. If your message was wholly contained within an e-mail message, then it’s most likely a “spam” (junk) message, and one of two things is going on: … Read more
So what are you supposed to do if your antivirus program catches a virus in an incoming mail message? It depends. What’s worse than e-mail spam? How about spam with a virus attached? Spam filters watch for spammers’ favorite words — so spammers use a bizarre mishmash language to get past the filters. In fact, … Read more
The preceding section deals primarily with scanning incoming mail, but what about mail that you are sending? Does your antivirus program automatically scan it for viruses? Viruses and their writers are pretty sneaky; if your antivirus program scans files as they are created (the “automatic” protection), then you can be sure that outbound mail is … Read more
Some well-known makes of antivirus software have introduced Web-based virus scanning. You can go to one of these Web sites and click the Scan my computer for viruses link. The Web page downloads a small program that will then scan your entire computer for viruses — usually for free (such a deal!). While there are … Read more