By LEROY MCLEAN, STAR WriterTODAY I WILL SHARE with you the secret to keep viruses away from your computer and how to identify the various entensions these viruses will use.
The best way to keep viruses off your computer is follow these procedures:
1. Install and configure an Antivirus. Also make sure that you update it on a regular basis.
2. Install and configure Firewall
3. Stop File and Print Sharing in Windows
4. Use Microsoft Windows Update to keep your computer current.
5. Read before you open any file with attachments. Make sure you are expecting an attachment from that person before opening.
Although any file type can potentially harbour a virus, malicious individuals have frequently written code exploiting the following file types
ANY
Any file can carry a virus if you're using the default Windows setting: Hide Known File Extensions. Hint: If you're using this setting and your receive e-mail with an attached file, and you can see the three-letter file extension, something is wrong.
See also .VxD (Virtual Device Driver). Although virtual device drivers (program code in Windows used to control peripheral hardware, such as printers or graphics controllers) may not spread a virus, several variants exist where the device driver is the agent that spreads the infection the next time Windows loads.
.BAT
DOS Batch file can be used to call other DOS executable programs. The DOS batch "language" is quite powerful and can call any DOS command line function commands (including instructions) to erase files, format drives, delete drive partitions, and so on.
.COM
Executable DOS 'COMpiled' program used for smaller program files (size limit 64KB). Because of the size limit, larger programs are compiled into executable files with an .EXE extension (see below).
.DLL
Dynamic Link Library file. The less information (code) there is in an executable program file, the less memory it takes to run it initially. However, some program files are quite large, so smaller portions of them are housed in DLL files that are then called by the main executable application. Viruses are not as commonly hidden in DLL files today, but it's still a place to set your antivirus software to scan.
.DOC
Microsoft Word document file. Also .DOT (template file) may hold instructions using Word's automation "macro" language; in today's terms, a variation of BASIC. Loading the document into Word will execute the embedded macro virus. Ways to avoid this include opening Word documents in other word processors (WordPerfect, Lotus WordPro, Star Office, etc.), scanning for viruses before loading, and deleting unsolicited documents sent as e-mail attachments.
Continue in next article.
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