Spam is the common name used to describe junk e-mail, or unsolicited commercial e-mail (UCE). Spam is, at the same time, big business for those who create and distribute it and a growing nuisance for its recipients. By being careful how and where you share your e-mail address, you can help to keep your e-mail … 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
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
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
Because whole-computer scans take so long and make your computer so sluggish, you might schedule your computer to do its scans at a regular time when you’re not using it. Personally, I have my antivirus program scan my entire computer on Mondays at 2:00 a.m. Sometimes I stay up late on the computer on Sunday … Read more
A plethora of negative magazine articles and books have catalyzed a new kind of hypochondria among computer users: an unreasonable fear of computer viruses. This hypochondria is possible because a) computers are very complex machines which will often behave in ways which are not obvious to the average user, and b) computer viruses are still … Read more