Email we love to hate

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E-mail we love to hate

• Viruses, hoaxes, chain letters spam

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Viruses
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What is a virus?

• A virus is a program written intentionally to
  enter a computer without the users permission or
  knowledge, usually to cause harm.

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Other types of infectors

• Worms are programs the have the ability to move
  through networks and replicate themselves from
  computer to computer.
• Trojan horses are files that claim to be one
  thing (e.g. a screensaver or a game), but, in
  fact, are a malicious program. Unlike viruses,
  Trojan horses do not replicate themselves. They
  just cause damage.

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Beware of e-mail attachments

• Do not open any e-mail attachments from people
  you do not know.
• Do not open an e-mail attachment from someone you
  know if you are not expecting it.
• Exercise caution with these file extensions vbs,
  exe, com, pif, bat, scr, bas, Ink, class, ocx.
• Image files (.jpg, .gif) are generally safe. Word
  and Excel files (.doc, .xls) are also safe if
  Macros are disabled.

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Macros

• If you open a document or spreadsheet with
  macros, you will see the following message
• Click on Disable Macros to be safe.

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More about Macros

• To make sure macro virus protection is turned on
• Word From the Tools menu, click on Options.
  Click on the General tab. Make sure there is a
  checkmark next to Macro Virus Protection.
• Excel From the Tools menus, scroll to Macro and
  click on Security. Set the security level to
  Medium.

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Anti-virus software

• Update your anti-virus software weekly.
• Configure anti-virus software to automatically
  scan e-mail attachments.
• If anti-virus software does not work with your
  e-mail software, save attachment to hard drive
  and manually scan the file before opening it.

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Other preventative measures

• Update Internet Explorer to 5.5 Service Pack 2 or
  version 6.
• Install Windows Critical Updates regularly at
  http//windowsupdate.microsoft.com/
• If using Outlook, install security update at
  www.microsoft.com/security/articles/update.asp
• Will limit the types of attachments you can
  receive.
• Protect sensitive documents with a password.

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Did I send that virus?

• Klez is a new virus that not only sends itself to
  people in your address book, but puts a
  randomly-chosen name from your address book in
  the From field.
• You could receive an e-mail message saying you
  sent the virus to someone else when it never
  touched your computer. (If there is an attachment
  with this message, do not open it.)

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What if my computer is infected with a virus?

• Disconnect the network cable from your computer.
• Do not reboot.
• Download a copy of updated virus definitions on a
  clean computer.
• Transfer virus definitions to infected computer.
• Scan all files on computer with anti-virus
  software.
• Look up virus on McAfees or Symantecs web site
  for more information on removing that specific
  virus.

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Virus resources on the Internet

• www.mcafee.com/anti-virus
• www.symantec.com/avcenter
• www.antivirus.com
• www.microsoft.com/security
• www.howstuffworks.com/virus.htm

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Hoaxes
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Virus hoaxes

• E-mails about viruses, unless from an
  authoritative source, are almost always hoaxes.
• Before forwarding the e-mail, look up the virus
  information at
• www.mcafee.com/anti-virus
• www.symantec.com/avcenter

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Other hoaxes

• Congress is not considering legislation allowing
  phone companies to impose Internet connect
  charges.
• Nieman Marcus did not charge 250 for a recipe.
• Petitions do not work.
• Nobody from Nigeria is going to transfer money
  into your bank account.
• If it tells you to forward to as many people as
  possible, be skeptical.
• www.scopes.com

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Chain letters and jokes

• Chain letters involving money are illegal.
• Be selective when forwarding jokes.

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SPAM
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Methods for reducing SPAM

• Read privacy policies and be careful of
  checkmarks when doing online registrations.
• Beware of posting your e-mail address and using
  Chat Rooms.
• Encrypt e-mail addresses on your web site
• www.robertgraham.com/tools/mailtoencoder.html
• Unsubscribing (or sometimes just opening the
  e-mail) is the way Spammers verify your e-mail
  address is active.

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Managing your SPAM

• Use an ISP that filters SPAM. (imperfect)
• Set up your own filters in your e-mail software.
• Outlook refers to them as Rules and provides
  access to them through the Organize button on
  your toolbar.
• Filters can be used to manage legitimate e-mail
  as well.
• Hit the Delete key.

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SPAM resources on the Internet

• www.spywareinfo.com/links.html
• www.cauce.org

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Say good-bye to pop-ups

• These products were recently reviewed in
  September 2002 issue of Searcher The Magazine
  for Database Professionals.
• Pop-up stopper Only one browser window can open
  at a time unless you hold down Shift or Ctrl key.
  Free. www.panicware.com
• CookieCop2 Free. www.pcmag.com/article/0,2997,s1
  478a20845,00.asp
• AdSubtract Pro Blocks banner ads and offers
  cookie control as well. 29.95 www.adsubtract.com