Although the
Internet is a worldwide network of
interlinked computers, there is no
single body or organisation that controls
or monitors appropriate usage of the
Internet. Teachers and schools must
keep up-to-date with current acts
of Internet vandalism and have strategies
in place to combat them.
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The
easiest way for you to
prevent infecting your
friends' and colleagues'
computers with viruses
is for you to NOT GET
A VIRUS IN THE FIRST PLACE.
As long as you practice
"safe surf"
-- update your antivirus
definitions regularly,
run Windows Update and
download all of the Critical
Updates at least once
a month, enable macro
virus protection in Microsoft
Word, and avoid email
attachments by either
not opening them altogether
or at minimum deleting
any email attachment that
ends in .exe or .vbs and
virus scanning all remaining
attachments before opening
them -- your computer
will be about as safe
from viruses as it can
get. |
Patrick Douglas
Crispen in TOURBUS Vol. 7, No. 23, 11 Oct 2001 |
Patrick's advice is timely,
especially for schools where
so many people have access to
the network.
Students should be encouraged to always use the virus
scan on every email attachment before opening, even if
they know the person sending it. They can also be encouraged
to include short Word documents in the body of an email
rather than sending them as an attachment.
- Antivirus
Software
This comprehensive site includes links to all aspects
of real and hoax viruses. However, be warned - the
virus humour is for teachers only.
- Viruslist
Virus Encyclopedia
Covers all aspects of malware and includes links to current virus alerts and news.
- McAfee.com
The Department of Education in Western Australia has
a statewide licence for all school, district office
and central office workstations and fileservers to
McAfee Anti-Virus Software.
The contract also licenses all WA Government School
staff and students for non-commercial, home use of
these products.
For information about the licence see:
www.eddept.wa.edu.au/LTContracts/ltc_mcafee.htm
- McAfee
Virus Information
The McAfee Virus Information section
has detailed information on where viruses come from,
how they infect your computer system, and how to remove
them. It also has ten useful prevention tips.
- Virus
Prevention 101/102
[TOURBUS Vol. 7, Nos 43 & 46, Jan 2002]
These Tourbus Topics contain practical
tips for all Internet users. |
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- Computer
Virus Hoaxes
Contains general information about hoaxes, an A to
Z listing of virus hoaxes, and resources for understanding
and coping with real computer viruses and other security
threats.
- Hoax
Warnings
Considered to be the industry standard information
source for new virus hoaxes and false alerts, this
site provides up-to-date information about email virus
alarms.
- Hoaxbusters
This site has been set up in response to the often
time consuming and costly business of debunking computer
virus hoaxes. It includes current hoax warnings, how
to identify a new hoax warning and instructions on
what to do if you think a warning is really a hoax.
The Malicious Code Warnings section contains
the original hoax warnings that describe the terrible
things that some malicious code will do to you. All
of these are fake.
- SCAMwatch
SCAMwatch is a website run by the Australian Competition & Consumer Commission (ACCC). The aim of SCAMwatch is to provide information to Internet users about how to recognise, avoid and report scams.
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- Spam
and Getting
Rid of Spam
Webopedia contains two helpful articles with an
excellent definition of spam and suggestions for minimising
junk email.
- Spam
National Office for the Information
Economy [NOIE] 2002
An Australian Government review into spam, which makes
an assessment of the extent of the problem and the
adequacy of existing counter-measures. Proposes a
series of recommendations for the improved management
of spam.
- You
are SPAM-listed! The Sudden Death of E-mail
Jamie McKenzie. FNO 2004
As torrents of SPAM flood our mailboxes and as filters
start disrupting the flow of legitimate email, some
people may find that voice mail and mobile phones
will serve them better than e-mail.
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| Net Nasties |
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