Check your virus knowledge!

How many of you received 'Happy New Year' emails from people you don't know? The virus Tibs.jy has been spreading with a New Year's greeting, sent as an attachment named postcard.exe or similar with the subject line 'Happy New Year'. If it is opened, it tries to find email addresses and sends copies of itself.

There are also malicious emails currently going round claiming to contain details of the storms that battered Europe. Emails with the subject line '230 dead as storm batters Europe' can leave computers vulnerable to attack.

What are computer viruses?

A computer virus is a programme written to alter the way a computer operates, without the permission or knowledge of the user. If a virus gets on your computer it can delete or even destroy files and software, and even deliver itself via email to your friends or colleagues.

How do I protect myself?

The best way to protect your computer from viruses is to invest in some anti-virus software, which checks what you do on the Internet and scans for viruses. If it spots a virus hidden in an e-mail message or web page, then this software disables the virus and prevents it from damaging your computer.

Most anti-virus software will automatically make a regular check for computer viruses when you collect your e-mail messages or view certain web pages. You can also set up your software so that a virus check is carried out as often as you want, so you hardly know that it is there, keeping your computer safe.

What does Nildram recommend?

Nildram has some fantastic offers to help you protect your computer. For just £24 per year, the F-Secure Deskdefender package is complete virus and security protection for your PC, including always-on security, with automatic updates and upgrades, and minimum maintenance effort required from you.

Nildram is also offering the McAfee Internet Security Suite for only £39.99 per year, complete with anti-virus software, firewall protection (to prevent hacking attacks) and anti-spyware (to stop rogue software from installing on your PC).

Top Tips to help you remain virus free

• Install an anti-virus programme and keep it up to date
• Never open emails from an unknown sender
• Delete (without opening) emails that look like they are from your bank asking for your credit card details - banks never do this. This practice is known as 'phishing' (see our newsletter piece on online banking in this issue)
• Never open email attachments if you are unsure of their content or original source (especially if the name of the document file finishes '.exe')
• Get the latest updates recommended for your operating system
• Only download or purchase software and programmes from trusted, reputable sources
• Backup your important files somewhere safe, like copying them to CD or a separate hard disk.

You can also check out more details on keeping safe online courtesy of F-Secure

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