.: Condoms for Your PC - Use an Anti-Virus Program
By:Tim Flynt
Category:Home / Computers / Software
WHAT IS A VIRUS - In non-technical terms, a virus on your PC is a program that will cause you a problem. It will jam your ability to use the PC because it makes the PC too busy, it will cause undesirable actions (such as changing files), or it will cause loss of data by deleting files (potentially, all of your files). While it is possible that you will never experience a virus or that you will experience only a mild virus, there is no virus that you want to have any more than you want to have the flu.
HOW CAN THEY GET ONTO MY PC - If you use your PC long enough, you are likely to encounter at least one virus. For the most part, they are distributed through Email attachments. More recent and more clever versions, however, can install themselves from visits to web pages with no warning. Since almost all of us go to a web page at some time, it is more likely that we will encounter a virus at some time.
HOW DO WE AVOID THEM - Beyond the obvious advice of "never open an attachment (even from someone you know) without saving it to your PC and letting an anti-virus program scan it," consider the approach of "don't open an Email from someone you don't know." That one becomes a problem for many of us who get mail from potential customers and don't know them in advance. Perhaps a better rule is "to use caution in opening Email; avoid Email without a subject or with an unreadable subject; and avoid Email from a strange Email address." You would not expect to get an Email from the President nor from Howdy Doody, so don't open one if you see such Email addresses.
The professional answer is to get and utilize a commercial anti-virus program. There are old standby programs from Symantec, McAfee, and Computer Associates (CA). There are newer ones from Trend Micro, PC Tools, and Microsoft. For those who love freeware, try Grisoft's AVG.
IF IT ISN'T UP-TO-DATE, IT ISN'T SAFE - Consider this scenario: Monday you buy an Anti-Virus program which protects against viruses A, B, and C. On Tuesday, someone creates virus D. On Wednesday, your Anti-Virus companyhears about the virus D and starts to work on a remedy. On Thursday, your Anti-Virus company issues a patch to address virus D. On Friday, you get the patch to address virus D. If you install the patch to address virus D on Saturday and the virus D comes to you on Sunday, you are protected. If the virus D comes to you on Sunday and you did not install the patch, you get the virus. Thus, it is vital to keep your Anti-Virus product up-to-date in order to keep your PC safe.
IF IT ISN'T RUN, IT ISN'T SAFE - As with the updates to the Anti-Virus software, you also need to run the Anti-Virus software on some regular basis in order to have it check for viruses. If I just ran it yesterday, what's the hurry to run it again? The answer is related to the patches. Those patches may now locate a problem that was missed in previous scans. I run updates and scans on a daily basis. You may wish to do less than that, but you should run an update and a scan at least on a weekly basis. It is better to be safe than sorry.
HOW TO RUN - Most Anti-Virus products offer a scheduler so that it is easy for you to set an update and scan to run on a selected day(s) and at a selected time. Try to run the processes during the day so that you can see the results and address any problems which are identified.
Whatever you do, it is better to have some Anti-Virus product at work for you to help to keep your PC safe.
This article contains suggestions for the use of utility programs under the Windows operating system. They are based on years of use, but they may not be the right suggestions for you and your PC environment. Before you follow any technical suggestion, be sure that you have a current (and tested) backup of all system and data files and that you can restore the system if necessary. You are welcome to contact me if you encounter a problem, but I assume no responsibility for your actions and/or use of the information provided and disclaim any legal responsibility for any negative results of such actions.
Copyright 2006 by Tim Flynt. All rights reserved.
Tim Flynt has spent over 25 years dedicated to efficient application and utility systems. Experienced in higher education, entertainment, and software development organizations. Current interest in "PC Maintenance Management."
http://AcceleratedOffice.com
Article Source: http://www.articles32.com
.: New Software Articles
1). What Your Spouse Might Not Want You To Know
Is your spouse or significant other extremely secretive about their computer habits?
2). Why Buy Anti Spyware Software When I Can Download it Free?
Many Spyware software packages are being sold on the Internet. Many other packages are listed for free. Why should you pay for something that might be free?
3). Free Spyware Adware Remover
Computers need routine maintenance as well as systems checks in order to be in good condition at all times. This can be done by getting the proper software or sending the unit to the shop.
4). Getting Free Internet Security for Your Computer
Surfing the Internet nowadays can be very dangerous. With all the viruses, spywares, adwares, identity thieves and hackers circulating for surfers to victimize, opening and downloading an attachment sent by your friend can be very scary.
5). What Are Your Children Doing Online?
In the Internet age, our children use the computer as much as or maybe more than their parents do. Kids use the Internet to do homework, play video games, converse with their friends and more.
6). Safe Guard Your Critial Business Documents
All types of commercial places, whether in the private, public or the government sector are now increasingly using computers for various possible functions.
7). How Folder Hider Software Works
Nowadays, a computer is being increasingly used in all types of settings, whether it is an office, a corporate house or domestic settings.
.: Top Software Articles
1). Track Your MySpace Profile Visitors
I know that everyone who is on MySpace has had the same burning questions that I’ve had. How can I see who has viewed my MySpace profile? Where can I find a MySpace Tracker? Since MySpace has become so popular, so have the MySpace profile stalkers. Could be your friends, neighbors, ex-boyfriends or ex-girlfriends, or even someone you don’t even know.
2). Discover Mozzila FireFox Browser -and How to Install Extensions
Discover Mozilla FireFox Extra Features – Extensions and How To Install Them
If you are still not using any other web browser then FireFox (no matter what OS you are using) you are endangering the security of your computer and missing out on a much richer surfing experience.
One of Mozilla FireFox browser most powerful feature is the possibility to install extensions.
3). PsP Software Downloads – Review for PsP Blender
PsP software downloads is a very good way to get new software for your psp hand held. You can get psp movies from many different websites. Most of these sites include psp music downloads, psp movie downloads and psp software downloads and of course PsP Games. Many of the databases are different from one site to another. Some sites offer a wide variety of different choices.
4). Tutorial - Enabling IIS 5.1 on Windows XP Pro
Windows XP Home Edition does not support IIS
1. You may need to put your Windows XP Pro CD into the PC.
2. Go to Control Panel, ‘Add Remove Programs’, then ‘Add/Remove Windows Components’. In the Windows Components window, place a check mark
beside ‘Internet Information Services (IIS)’, then click next, then click finish.
3. During installation, Windows creates a directory at C:inetpubwwwroot and places a few files there.
5). PsP Software – Review of Software Download Sites
PsP handhelds are one of the newest and most fun ways to play games, watch movies and listen to music. PsP software downloads are just some things that you can do to improve your psp. PsP software downloads are fun and easy.
There are many places on the net were one can find psp software downloads. Some sites have you pay per download and sometimes charge up to a couple dollars for each download.
6). What To Do When Windows Fail To Boot
Copyright 2006 Otis Cooper
When Windows fails to boot it is normally caused by you installing a program or device and it has caused a conflict with one or more other programs.
This will no doubt give you plenty of heartaches if you're not certain which program caused Windows to not boot up.
If you recently installed a program or application and know where it was installed,you may be in much better shape as for as correcting the error.
7). SQL Server 2000 Data Types
SQL Server requires that each variable and column in a table should be defined with respect to the type of data it will store. From a bit to a huge image and binary storage types, the allocation is supposed to help the user conform to the data required, and help the engine allocate space and processing speed efficiently.
Built-in data types
SQL.