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Virus Information and Resources
( Play it safe... wear a computer condom! )


Anti-Virus Software/Firewalls

Anti-Virus Information

Internet/E-mail frauds and scams (ie. Nigerian)

MSN's Bug-of-the-Day

PC Mag's Security Watch

Trend's free virus scanner

Virus Hoaxes Information

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In this day and age of political and electronic terrorism we run the risk of personal attacks both physically and electronically. We can't let the cowardly bastards win. Just as we must not stop travelling, we must not stop using the Internet for both our pleasure and our commerce.

It is tough to protect ourselves from random acts of terrorism when venturing out in the real world... as the September 11 and recent anthrax attacks have shown, but electronically we do have the means to stop virus invasions, through the use of good anti-virus software and local firewalls.
If people venture out into the Internet today, without having adequate anti-virus software they are fools, plain and simple. Basic protection is affordable and easy to install. This page is meant to help you to protect your computer assets by offering several useful resources. A couple of basic steps to start:

DO NOT open any e-mail and or attachments from anyone you do not recognize (unfortunately even well-meaning family members can unknowingly send viruses that attach themselves to files and e-mail messages... particularly Microsoft Outlook and Microsoft Word software).

DO NOT forward any hoax messages without checking them out first - see below (they are just as annoying as the viruses themselves and tend to clog the internet with useless mail).

DO run your anti-virus scanning software often (with our volume of mail we do this once a day).

DO update your anti-virus software data often (these are free downloadable updates that add new virus names to your existing protection list).


Anti-virus software:
Two of the main anti-virus softwares currently available that work well, and offer automagic downloadable updates, come from: McAfee VirusScan and Symantec (Norton) (Canada). Another software is BitDefender, (formerly AntiVirus eXpert), go to their site and click on "home user". Any good computer or office store (ie. Staples) has these. They are easy to install and well worth the price.

Firewalls:
Firewall protection is important if you have a high-speed connection that is typically a constant hook-up to the Internet. ZoneAlarm and Sygate are personal firewalls that automatically block known and unknown Internet threats, barricading your PC against hackers and data thieves. They are easy to install and use, and have free versions for home use.

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Anti-Virus Information:

  • About's Antivirus Software with Mary Landesman - Everything antivirus, from your Antivirus.About.com guide. Vendor and virus information, history and future of computer viruses. Check out thier section on E-mail viruses: "Viruses can infect simply by reading, or in some cases, previewing, email. Discover what these email infectors are and steps you can take to prevent infection. "
  • Anti-Virus Information Exchange Network (AVIEN) - AVIEN is a grassroots network started from the need of organizations to receive cutting edge information, even if only tentative and general, directly from others, to help prevent infections before they infiltrate;
  • BitDefender - is a provider of PC anti-virus software and computer security services. Their Professional Edition "An advanced virus protection package that includes an on-access scanner, a Mail Monitor, Download Control (web browser) Script Wall and special support for Office 2000. With both real-time virus protection and an on-demand virus scanner you are fully protected from viruses, Trojans, backdoors, logic bombs, macro viruses, and other malicious programs..." Their mission is to ensure the protection of systems against computer viruses, to do antivirus research, to develop new technologies for monitoring all possible ways to infect a system and, last but not least, to educate the IT public of the danger of computer viruses.
  • Central Command - is a provider of PC anti-virus software and computer security services.
  • CNET's Virus Alert page - Knowledge is the best defense against e-mail viruses. Now, you can keep up-to-date on the latest e-mail viruses courtesy of CNET's Virus Alert page. Checking this page periodically can help you spot virus-laden e-mail attachments. Remember to be cautious of any unsolicited e-mail attachments, even if they come from people you know. What else can you do to protect your computer from viruses? The Virus Alert page also gives you a wealth of instructions and advice for protecting your computer, handheld, and even your chat application from infection.
  • Computer Associates - Virus Information Center - The Virus Information Center serves as a rich, up-to-the-minute resource, containing detailed information on viruses, worms, Trojans, and hoaxes, as well as valuable documentation on the implementation of comprehensive antivirus protection. CA’s eTrust Global Antivirus Research Centers monitor around-the-clock to defend against the damaging effects a virus outbreak could cause.
  • Computer Emergency Response Team (CERT) - The CERT Coordination Center (CERT/CC) is a center of Internet security expertise, (an online security watchdog) at the Software Engineering Institute, a federally funded research and development center operated by Carnegie Mellon University. We study Internet security vulnerabilities, handle computer security incidents, publish security alerts, research long-term changes in networked systems, and develop information and training to help you improve security at your site.
  • Early Warning System (EWS) - The goal of the Segura/AVIEN Early Warning System (EWS) is to facilitate the rapid, vendor-independent alerting against virus threats;
  • Homepage virus - This Cnet News.com feature allows you to view all the recent stories related to this topic;
  • McAfee Virus Information Library - More than 58,000 virus threats exist today. The McAfee AVERT Virus Information Library has detailed information on where viruses come from, how they infect your system, and how to remove them;
  • MessageLabs - is a provider of Internet-level managed email security services, protecting customers from email-borne threats such as viruses, unsolicited mail, malicious and sensitive content and pornography, before such content comes anywhere near their network boundaries.
  • SecurityFocus.com - SecurityFocus.com is aprovider of security information services for business. It is designed to facilitate discussion on security related topics, create security awareness, and to provide the Internet's largest and most comprehensive database of security knowledge and resources freely available to the public.
  • Sensible Security Solutions - Canada's anti-virus professionals, "Providing corporate and government organizations with enterprise-level anti-virus solutions."
  • Symantec - is a world leader in Internet security technology and provides a broad range of content and network security solutions to individuals and enterprises. The company is a leading provider of virus protection, vulnerability assessment, intrusion prevention, Internet content and e-mail filtering, remote management technologies and security services to enterprises around the world. Symantec's Norton brand of consumer security products leads the market in worldwide retail sales and industry awards.
  • Symantec's AntiVirus Research Center(SARC) - Provides latest virus threats and security advisories, virus definitions, removal tools and loads of reference material. RECOMMENDED!
  • Symantec's AntiVirus Download area - This link will allow you to download the latest virus definitions.
  • Topica's Virus Alert Tip of the Day - to subscribe, e-mail: tipworld-virus;
  • Trend Micro - specializes in network antivirus and Internet security software and services. Its solutions protect the flow of information on PCs, file servers, email servers and at the Internet gateway, providing a complete, centrally-controlled VirusWall for enterprise networks.
  • ViraLock anti-virus software prevents the spread of e-mail viruses and worms like Klez, Sircam, Magistr, Nimda and others, allowing them no escape from an infected computer. Unlike traditional anti-virus software like Norton AntiVirus and McAfee VirusScan which blocks known viruses from coming in, ViraLock makes certain that all viruses, known or unknown, are unable to get out. ViraLock works seamlessly alongside your traditional anti-virus software to give you complete protection.
  • ZDNet's Security Resource Center: Their Security Alert delivers the latest security-related news, reviews and features directly to your inbox.

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Internet/E-mail frauds and scams (ie. Nigerian):

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MSNBC's Bug-of-the-Day:

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PC Magazine's Security Watch:

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Trend Micro's free online virus scanner:

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Virus Hoaxes Information:

  • Computer Associates - Virus Information Center - The Virus Information Center serves as a rich, up-to-the-minute resource, containing detailed information on viruses, worms, Trojans, and hoaxes, as well as valuable documentation on the implementation of comprehensive antivirus protection. CA’s eTrust Global Antivirus Research Centers monitor around-the-clock to defend against the damaging effects a virus outbreak could cause;
  • Hoaxbusters - A public service of the CIAC (Computer Incident Advisory Capability) team and the U.S. Department of Energy. Their pages describe some of the warnings, offers, and pleas for help that are filling our mailboxes, clogging our mailservers, and that generally do not have any basis in fact. In addition to describing hoaxes and chain letters found on the Internet, we will discuss how to recognize hoaxes, what to do about them, and some of the history of hoaxes on the Internet;
  • Internet-101.com - Anti-Virus, Hoax, Myth, Fraud, Chain Letter and Anti-Spam Sites... This site contains lots and lots of anti-virus and hoax links and was designed to educate you about the latest happenings in all areas of Anti-Virus, Hoax, Myth, Fraud, Chain Letter and Anti-Spam occurring on the Internet.
  • MSNBC's "Hacks, Viruses & Scams";
  • Shorty's Anti-Virus/Hoax Information - to subscribe, e-mail: shorty_antivirus;
  • Symantec's hoax updates - This site is just overflowing with information about various urban myths, legends and virus hoaxes;
  • VMyths.com for more virus hoax information;
  • ZDNet's E-Hoaxes Archive - Help & How-To: Have you been subject to an e-hoax? This page contains a list of hoaxes that have been debunked.
  • ZDNet's E-Hoax Central: The companion to their E-Hoaxes Archive - Their e-hoax specialist debunks urban myths, chain e-mail, and pervasive riff-raff spread via the Internet.
  • ZDNet's PC Protection Basics: Protect your system against malicious attacks from viruses, hackers, and other invaders.

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