The Seven Basic Anti-Virus Measures for PC Users 1. Use the latest anti-virus product by updating virus pattern files frequently To detect and prevent new virus, it is very important to use the latest antivirus program with its virus pattern files most updated. You should always check the latest version of virus pattern file by visiting antivirus companies' website regularly. Please note that pre-installed version of antivirus program usually limit its functions and period of service. You should upgrade it to official and latest version of the program. 2. Check the attachment files with antivirus program anytime before opening them If you receive email with attachment file, you should always scan the file for viruses. Conversely, you need to scan the file before you send them out via email. 3. Check the downloaded programs with antivirus program anytime before executing them You should always scan the files and programs that you download from internet. You should also avoid downloading files from unreliable websites because they sometimes contain destructive or damaging programs (such as the ones that set your PC to automatically make international telephone calls or Dial Q2. Such programs will not be detected by antivirus programs in most cases.) 4. Make the most use of "security function" of application program Set the security function of applications properly. For example, Microsoft Word and Excel have "Macro virus Protection" option that disables automatic macro execution. Also, set the security level of your mailer and internet browser to proper level ("Medium" or higher). That should prevent virus damage. 5. Apply appropriate security patch Although you practice basic antivirus methods, there is a possibility for you to get virus if you use programs with security vulnerabilities. For example, security hole of mailer that allows automatic execution of email attachments will increase the danger of virus infection. These vulnerabilities are found and published quite often, so you should visit websites of vendors for your program (specially mailers and internet browser) regularly and should apply appropriate security patch. 6. Don't overlook symptoms of virus infection Scan your system with antivirus program when you notice following symptoms and you feel you have virus: Your system or application hang ups quite often. Or you can't start the system. Files are lost and unfamiliar files are created. Strange icons are created in the task bar etc. Weird message is displayed. PC automatically connects to internet regardless of your will. You don't know what it is but you feel something is wrong 7. Create back-up copy of your data to prevent damage Antivirus program can't restore or repair data destroyed by virus. You should make habit of creating backup copies of your data just in case you get infected by virus. You should also save the original program of your application on either FD or CD. That way you can restore your data by reinstalling the originals even if the virus destroys your hard disk. Anti-virus Tools for MS-DOS A-VIRUS1 AAVIRUS ADINF AEDOS ALERT! ANSICHEK ASTEALTH2 AUTOSCAN Antiviral Toolkit Pro AVP Virus Encyclopedia, Ed. Bomb Squad BootChek BOOTCOMP BtPrt CatchMtE CheckMate CheckOut CHECKUP CRC Check CRCSET CVIRPROT Deform DISKSECURE II DISKSECURE DLCHECK.BAT DSII EARLY Bird ESDScan FIBER File Defender Plus Fix BSI FileSafe F-PROT FixUtils FLU_SHOT HARE Hcopy HTSCAN Integrity Master InVircible KillMonk M-Disk MacLis MacroKiller Microsoft Macro Virus Tool Myths, Computer Virus NETShield (Netware) NetZ Nuke MANZON Nuke REPLICATOR Nuke TAIPAN Overseer PC-Virus 4.0 Database PC-Virus 4.0 Reports QWXYC Res-av ScanDay SENTRY StScan THE BRIDGE TERMINUS THE DETECTIVE THE SCANNER THE VIRUS TERMINUS ThunderBYTE Anti-Virus Trojan Trap Vcheck VIRBAIT Virex Virus Detection System (VDS) Virus Information Summary List (VSUM) ViruSafe VDOC VIRUSCAN Viruschk Virus Simulation Suite VirusNet LAN/VirusNet 95 VRU AV Testing VSTE Scanner WebScan

hi hylian lynk, wow!!! some very good and useful information. all the best, murve

Thank you for all the research and posting it for us. Take care!