Protect yourself against computer viruses
Computer
viruses are so much a part of the Internet mystique that
many people are either wildly paranoid about them or
else so casual that they think they're no big deal. On
the one hand, viruses prove how
vulnerable
computer systems can be.
A
well-coded virus can have a pretty astounding effect on
the Internet. On the other hand, they show us that, no
matter how sophisticated
and interconnected human beings have become, there are
still weirdos out there who get their kicks from harming
others. For example, the
Melissa virus, which became
a global phenomenon
in March of 1999, was so pervasive that a number
of large companies, including Microsoft, had to completely
turn off their e-mail systems until the virus could be
dealt with. Widespread distribution of The
ILOVEYOU virus in 2000 produced similar results. That's
pretty impressive considering both the Melissa and
ILOVEYOU viruses are deceptively
simple pieces of code.
While there are many real computer viruses circulating
about the Internet, there are also quite a lot of hoaxes.
If someone sends you email telling you about a virus,
check
here first to make sure it's not a hoax. Above all,
make sure you're protected. Norton Antivirus and Antivirus
Pro are on sale right now. It's cheap protection considering
the potential harm a virus can do to your computer. Call
us to to reserve one for you, or just come by and pick
one up.
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