Viruses, Hoaxes &
Scams Oh My
The same scams that
we have fallen for
in the past are
still getting us
today in our
internet email. The
reverse virus hoax,
for example, like
the one that went
around last month,
tells you to delete
a file from your
computer because it
is a virus, only to
find out later that
your computer needs
that file. Or the
sympathy letter,
that tells you that
so and so will
donate money if you
pass on this chain
letter to everyone
you know. Please do
not do this, this is
a hoax, and is
sometimes used with
a “spider bot” to
collect email
addresses and you
may remember the
“call this number to
fix a potential
problem scam”, and
when you call, you
get billed for the
call.
I could go on but I
think that it should
be obvious by now
that you cannot
believe everything
you get via email.
Your best bet is to
check it out. Ask
somebody in the
know, or use a
search engine. Just
type the words you
need help with in
the search engine
window and click go.
This will save you
some hassle and
possibly some money.
Internet Explorer
users should go to
the “windows update”
site at least once a
month to get any new
security fixes.
Speaking of viruses,
your “preview Pane”
option in your email
program is under
“tools”-“options”
and should be turned
off. This will stop
an “html” email from
downloading before
you and your
antivirus program
have a chance to
look at who it is
from and what is in
it. Viruses usually
arrive as an
attachment. If you
do not recognize the
last three
characters after the
last dot, then do
not open it. Delete
it by selecting or
highlighting the
attachment file
name, then hit your
delete button. Don’t
forget to empty your
Deleted Files Folder
in your email
program and your
Recycling Bin on
your desk top.
I strongly recommend
that everyone get a
software “Firewall”.
Firewalls monitor
your internet
connection (they
scan the 65,000
ports that your
computer has open to
the web) and will
ask you before
allowing programs to
access your
computer, (or access
the internet form
your computer). I
would recommend
“Zonealarm”. This is
free for home use,
easy to configure
and use, and will
keep “script
kiddies” and
“hackers” from
entering your
computer when you
are online.
The internet is a
wonderful place to
find information,
communicate with
people, play games
or just surf around,
this is where your
computer comes in.
Just like any other
powerful tool, you
need to keep it
maintained and take
care when using it.
It takes a lot of
time to get used to
the hundreds of
functions your
computer can do. You
need patience and
when you find
yourself lost, just
hit “cancel” to get
back to where you
were.
In most operating
systems, you can
also “right click”
on anything to find
out what it is”
Don’t forget the
“Computer Access
Centers”. They are a
wonderful place to
get some training on
computers, and
anyone, whether just
starting out or
experienced can find
courses and classes
to fit their needs
or interests.
George Horton
Webmaster for kcnb
dot ca.
george@kcnb.ca