March 30, 2004 5:25 PM CST

Virus Protection: A PC's Best Friend

By Tim O’Toole

You're very lucky if you've been able to escape the latest swarm of infected e-mails circling around cyber space. We are in the middle of one of the deadliest virus attacks in history. How do you protect your computer from becoming infected? The answer is simple: install and run antivirus software.

With virus protection running, there is a good chance that the infected e-mail attachments will be deleted before they attack your computer. Your outgoing e-mail will also be scanned to make sure it does not contain any viruses. If you do not have virus protection, you should purchase software immediately. The best way to prevent an infection is to install antivirus software and constantly update it.

It is also best to avoid opening attachments from unknown senders. In most situations, antivirus software will detect and delete an infected attachment before any damage can be done. However, if you receive attachments from people you do not know, do not open them, and delete the e-mail immediately. Often times a virus can mimic e-mails from your address book. In this case, only open an attachment you know you should be receiving.

With virus protection enabled, running, and updated, you will greatly decrease the chance of your computer becoming infected. Do not open any files, e-mails or attachments from unknown, unreliable or untrustworthy sources. Always err on the side of caution.

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About the Author

Tim O’Toole is the Director of Marketing, Education, and Information Technology for the MCAA. He has a Masters in Business Administration from Webster University and has worked in the masonry industry since 2003.