Keeping Yourself Safe From An Email Virus

While it was once the good old floppy disk that was responsible for most computer virus infections, today it is email that is most often the source. When floppy disks were the problem, the solution was often as simple as sealing the floppy drive on office computers, but unfortunately such low tech solutions are no longer the answer. With just about everyone using email these days, it is up to every computer user to take steps to protect themselves and their valuable information from harm.

Fortunately, there are a number of concrete steps every computer user can take to avoid the dreaded email virus. These steps include:

> Run strong anti virus protection on your computer. This point simply cannot be stressed enough. It is absolutely vital for every computer connected to the internet to run a quality anti virus software package that is updated at least once a day. The anti virus software should be set to download updates at least on a daily basis, and the computer owner should be notified in the event the update fails. Quality anti virus protection is the backbone of protection against all viruses, including email viruses.

> If you use a public email account like Yahoo, Hotmail or Google, be sure to research how the company responds to email virus threats. Most email companies do a good job at detecting and blocking viruses, but it is important to evaluate the company's security practices before signing up for service.

> Never click a link in an email unless you are 100% certain that it is from a legitimate source. Links in spam email are a prime source of email viruses, and all spam emails should be promptly deleted and removed from the trash folder. Even if you think you recognize the source, remember that the email could be an phishing expedition. Phishing occurs when an individual sends a legitimate looking email appearing to be from a bank, from eBay or a similar source. The link embedded in the email appears to open a legitimate site, but in fact, the site is owned by a scam artist determined to steal personal information like passwords and account numbers. The best practice is to go directly to the web site of the bank or other business, and not to click the link in the email.

> If you do not recognize the return address of the email sender, delete the email. If you are not expecting the email, chances are it is a spam email, and spam emails often contain email viruses, spyware and other malicious code. Spam writers are getting more and more clever with their subject lines, and some of them even make the emails appear to come from someone you know. If you cannot authenticate the email, the best practice is to delete it.

> If you suspect that you have acquired an email virus, immediately run a virus scan and spyware scan on your entire computer. It is important to find any infection quickly, before it can do any damage. By running your anti virus program and spyware removal tool promptly, you will be able to protect yourself and remove the infection right away. After the infection has been removed, it is a good idea to reboot your computer and run a second scan. That is because some email viruses set themselves to start when your computer does. If you have gotten one of these self starting email viruses, you may need to run the scan again to make sure it has truly been removed from all locations.