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YES!   You need a FIREWALL on your desktop computer! ... Didn't anyone tell you? Your desktop pc is very vulnerable without one, and You too are responsible for keeping hackers away from your network. Get ZoneAlarm free! Anyone can install it easily. Critical MS Windows update patches are imperative. Recovery tips. If you have a disaster that damages your desktop pc, what will you do? Have a plan now! Tips to Fight Spam. Spam Report Card 2004.

Want to warn everyone you know about the latest Virus Warning you recieved on email today?! ... Before you do, please look up the email (search on a few selected keywords) to be sure it isn't a hoax or a virus.  Be smart, do BE the virus, by forwarding the bogus email to everyone in YOUR address book!

To stay virus-free and protect against hackers on your desktop, you will want to:

(1) Visit Microsoft's Update Site to check your system for missing critical updates..
It is a good practice to download the updates for your Windows computer regularly. Just 'Scan for Updates', and follow instructions.

(2) Get antivirus software, and keep it updated with automatically scheduled updates.
Get free antivirus software at AVG download* (NOTE: version 6.0 not supported after 12/04 - download 7.0). Always read license agreements associated with products.
If you think you have a virus, try:
** Free Virus Removal Tool - Network Associates (McAfee)*
** Free Virus Removal Tool - Symantec*
** Free Online Virus Scan - Trend Micro*

Note: Antivirus Tools Cannot Clean Infected Files in the _Restore
Folder," Article ID: Q263455
"How to disable or enable Windows Me System Restore"
"How to turn off or turn on Windows XP System Restore"

Computer Security Resource Center - Virus Resources & Other Areas of Interest, Anti-Virus Vendors

(3) Disable File Sharing
For instructions, go to Microsoft.com

(4) Get firewall protection. (Yes, you need a personal firewall!)
For Free (personal use) or for fee firewall protection for your computer, see ZoneLabs.*

(5) Watch out for Spyware.
If you think you have 'parasite' software on your PC, try (for free of for fee):
Dox Desk*
Ad-Aware*
SpyBot*


(6) Have a plan for Recovery from a disaster.

(7) Secure your Wireless Router.

Also, see Trace Route solutions for MS Windows OS and User Services Help Desk.

*FSU/OTI/UCS does not endorseor support any one antivirus, anti-spyware or firewall product. Install at your own risk.

News:
Microsoft releases antispyware, malware-removal tools
Users and analysts said the releases were long overdue
News Story by Jaikumar Vijayan - JANUARY 06, 2005 (COMPUTERWORLD)

• Worms can send email all over the world appearing to be sent from YOUR email account. (Actually, your address is spoofed on the email and learned from an address book of a worm-ridden pc.) Note: Receiving an email alert stating that the virus came from your email address is not an indication that you are infected as the virus often forges the from address.
• They cause more mail generated from mail servers responding to tell you that you have a virus (when it wasn't your email account that sent it, but your email address, forged), and they recieved mail from you containing a virus.
  Spawned email can look like this: 'failure to deliver' or '...detected a virus in the mail you sent', though you didn't send the mail and you may not be infected. This can cause slowness in the mail delivery system.

They generate email to join online clubs or submit subscriptions from your copied email address. You may recieve mail saying you have joined. While some of this is SPAM, you may not want to send a reply, just delete or store in a folder.

Many newer versions of client-side (desktop) email software will be able to learn which mail is SPAM. For instance, Eudora v6.2* has a 'junk' folder where your email software can learn what is junk and automatically move mail to the junk folder.

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Gone Phishing!
Phishing involves cleverly crafted e-mail messages and Web sites designed to trick computer users into disclosing sensitive personal information like passwords, credit card numbers and checking accounts.
"The (Anti-Phishing Working Group's) organization also posts tips on how to avoid phishing scams and what to do if your personal information has been compromised. See also the group's archive of phishing scams." ... Read more from Washington Post and ZDnet.