Netters:
Many of our computers (especially home computers) have been affected by the
recent viruses. Here are some simple but important reminders that help stop
(or at least slow down!) potential spread of viruses in the future:
1. Clean out your email address books - edit out the names you no longer
correspond with.
Rationale: Some viruses spread by using the "edresses" listed in electronic
address books. Every name removed from your list cuts back potentially
thousands (exponentially) by eliminating the "next link" sources.
If your address book automatically adds any new correspondent's edress, see
if you can disable this feature.
2. (Home computer users especially:) Set your virus protection to update
automatically AND CHECK IT ONCE A WEEK to be sure it hasn't been disabled.
(If on a school network, check with your tech person or administrator about
appropriate procedures).
Rationale: One of the viruses released earlier this year actually attacked
virus protection software and disabled the automatic update feature,
leaving systems vulnerable to infection. It's possible other viruses will
also be configured to do this. DON'T ASSUME it's working, check at least
weekly. If set on automatic, you will probably notice a message updating
your protection every two to three days. If several days go by without an
update, launch the program to update and run a scan, just to be sure. Check
the automatic feature.
3. When sending attachments, note it in the subject line ("Attachment
included") and/or the first line of the letter, where it will be visible
during a preview.
Rationale: this gives your recipient confidence that you intended to add
the attachment and it's unlikely to be a virus-laden counterfeit.
4. Don't add your name to electronic petitions you receive and don't
forward them (most don't have any impact or are bogus anyway); and avoid
forwarding stories, etc. that you've received forwarded from others with a
long list of recipients and their edresses listed. If you want to forward,
highlight just the story or information, copy, and paste into a new
document, then send.
Rationale: It is possible for names and edresses to be "harvested" (for
"spam" mailings or other reasons)from so-called petitions or forwarded
letters with tracings. You don't have control over the recipients your
contacts will forward to; you have no idea how they will use your
electronic information.
5. Check all petitions, unusual safety/warning stories, fund-raising or
rebate schemes, all sick or missing children stories, etc. on sites that
deal with urban legends (such as the CIAC's Hoaxbuster site
<http://hoaxbusters.ciac.org/>). After checking, don't forward such items
unless you can verify from the original source that they are true.
Rationale: Responding to these may make your edress more accessible to
"spammers." Also, forwarding "hoax" items clogs up others' mailboxes and
wastes their (personal or work)time. It also diminishes YOUR credibility
if/when the recipient recognizes the info as a hoax!
If you find it to be "bogus" politely send that information to the person
who originally forwarded the story to you.
Other hoax pages are listed at:
<http://hoaxbusters.ciac.org/HBOtherHoaxPages.html>
Joanne Ladewig, Library Media Technician (A.K.A. "Library Lady")
Lawrence Elementary, GGUSD Garden Grove, California
shatz1@earthlink.net
" You may be only one person in the world, but you may also be the world
to one person."
- - - comments are my own and may not reflect those of my employer- - -
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