I work at a help desk where I dealt with literally thousands of people who were infected with the Blaster Worm Virus. I've come to the realization that people are not protecting themselves from such a threat. So, I decided to give some steps on to do it.
Step 1 -
Run Anti-virus software
Ok, this sounds like a no-brainer. But, you'd be surprised how many people don't
do this. The most popular products are Norton and McAfee. If you can't afford
those, there are some free programs that would work, too (can anyone recommend
one?)
Most important is that you keep your anti-virus software updated. You should
check at least once a week for updates. Norton has an option to automatically
update itself.
Step 2 - Keep Windows Updated
Click your Start button and look for "Windows Update." Go ahead and run it. This
is something you should be doing on a regular basis. Better yet, set it to run
automatically. The patch that protected users from the Blaster Worm was
available in the middle of July - about a month before the virus came out.
Step 3 - Run a Firewall
A firewall blocks unauthorized access to your computer. Using one will protect
yourself from both hackers and viruses. If you run a high speed connection 24
hours a day, I would consider getting a router. Linksys makes a good one
for about $50.
For those who don't want to put out the money for a router and dial-up users, I
recommend Zone Alarm. This is a free software-based firewall. It will be a pain
to use for about 2 days. It will ask you things like "Is it ok for Internet
Explorer to Access the Internet?" You'll click the box that tells Zone Alarm
to remember your choice and you would then choose "yes." It will ask you
questions like this for any outgoing and incoming connections from your computer
to the internet. Once you start running it, don't get freaked out when you see
that it's blocking users from accessing your computer. That's a common
occurrence, usually someone just "sniffing" around, looking for people who
aren't protected.
Click here to download Zone Alarm. Pick the free version that's on the left.
Some
other tips
1. Keep in mind that they is no way to completely protect yourself from all
viruses.
2. So, if you have anything important on your computer, back it up. In a worst
cases scenario where you ended up having to reinstall Windows, you'll have your
important files. Burning them to CD's is the easiest way.
3. Don't open up email attachments with an ".exe" extension, unless the person
sending it to you explains what the file is. Along the same lines, if for some
reason you send a .exe file to someone else, explain exactly what it is.
4. Please ignore forwarded emails that tell you to search for a file on your
computer and to delete it, because it is a virus. This is a hoax and you are
deleting a file that you need.
5. Resources - If you ever have a concern about viruses, check
Microsoft Knowledge Base
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=fh;[ln];kbhowto
Norton http://norton.com/
McAfee
http://us.mcafee.com/default.asp
Snopes
http://snopes.com/computer/virus/virus.htm (good place to find out about
virus hoaxes.)