Computer Virus's

Sent July 29, 2001

Computers In Our Work and Play

Please bear with and indulge me today. I am going to stray a little from my standard topics to deal with an issue of concern to everyone reading this.

Look in front of you (if this hasn't been printed out yet, if it has, think about where it came from). What is it? It's one of those ??#$%^&* .... computers .... the scourge of the world. I don't know about you, but sometimes I think they are a curse. In my business I spend most of my time, when not inspecting a home or building in front of one. This week I had two computers go on the blink at the same time !#$%^&*. Do I need to say it in English? And to make it even worse, most of you may not know, I am a construction consultant and part of that involves assisting contractors purchasing, setting up and training on computer systems !#$%^&*()_+ ... can you tell that I have had a bad week?

I started many years ago on an Apple II and was hooked forever. This morning I have a state of the art Dell laptop, or at least it was a year ago, sitting in my lap while I am on my sofa in front of the TV watching CMT writing this for you. Can you picture it? Haven't had a shower yet, it's an ugly sight.

Since my beginning I have been on many machines, main frames, desktops, laptops and witnessed both the good and the bad. I type this newsletter, click a button and it goes instantly to 700 of your computers (no paper, no stamps, no cost), I click another button and am instantly connected to millions of computers all over the world. I type an inspection report by selecting pre-typed auto text then edit it to create a customized report for your clients. The report has a color picture of the home on a photo quality front cover. If I find something really bad (God forbid) I put a color picture of it in the report for your client in California who couldn't be at the inspection to better understand the issue. Now that's the good.

I have lost everything on my hard drive by improperly using the infamous "*.*" in DOS. My computer consultant at that time, after he had to reload everything said "you know just enough about computers to be dangerous." And, you know, he was right and I am probably still in that category today, only even more dangerous, because I know even more. Of course there was this morning when I sent a thank you e-mail to a technician at Microsoft for saving my a...s. I told him that I would have probably given him my first born (sorry Tiffany, I didn't mean it!) if it took it to get MSWord up and running again. I do all of my reports in MSWord. I can't live without it. Take my wife (sorry sweat pea), take my children, take my home, just don't take the girl Oh! Oh! I mean my MSWord.

Now that I have your attention, let me get to the point. In case you haven't figured it out yet, I take this computer stuff pretty serious. I have some serious business to share with you. Have you ever experienced a computer virus? It not, you can't appreciate what I am going to tell you. I have, four times, and take my word for it, it is not a wonderful experience. I have learned, the hard way, to appreciate how easy it is to get one and how powerful and destructive one can be. I run an anti-virus program on my computers and update them on a regular basis, not only for my protection, but for yours. The problem is, virus protection programs will not protect you from some of the ones that haven't been identified yet or if your data files haven't been updated since the virus hit the world.

I had several experiences with one like that this week. My first experience came while I was on one of my clients computers not being as vigilant as I try to be about such. It came in an e-mail from my computer consultants address. I trust this person and his people explicitly so never questioned the attached file before I clicked on it. Not only that, but after I clicked on it and what it did didn't make sense I didn't even realize that I had just unleashed a virus on that computer and it's attached network. Their virus protection program did not catch it because it's new. When I got home, there was an e-mail from the same address on my computer. This time my guard was up, as it should have been, and I looked at the text and file name and immediately recognized it as a virus. I called the consultant and he was taken back and could not even imagine that his systems had been infected with a virus. Like me, even more so, he and his people try to be vigilant about such things. He was infected and it took a day for experienced people to clean it up.

Why am I sharing this with you? Well, just after receiving this from him, I got one from one of you. Luckily I caught both and my system was not infected. I know that there are people at all levels of computer experience who receive and read this newsletter, and trust me, I am and will not be upset if I receive a virus from one of you. Most likely I will catch it and advise you of the infection and if possible what you should do about it. I have learned the hard way and will do what I can to help.

The help starts TODAY.

If you have a computer, share files with others, use e-mail or are on the internet you MUST HAVE VIRUS PROTECTION and YOU MUST KEEP YOUR VIRUS PROTECTION DATA UP TO DATE.

Let me give you a little idea of what this new virus that hit me this week does. Luckily it got stopped dead in it's tracks. First it hides on your computer working and sending out e-mails in the background to all of the e-mail addresses on your computer. Not only those you have set up, but all of those in your catch files who have sent mail to you LIKE ME. It attaches to the e-mails going out pictures and document files from your computer. Got anything on your computer you would just as soon your mother didn't see? Well she may if you get this thing and her e-mail address is on your computer. How about your husband, wife, boss, best friend, children or the preacher? And as if that is not bad enough, it gives them the virus and does the same to them and then in October it starts damaging files on everybody's hard drive. Are you beginning to understand why I am writing about this? Only you can stop it!

If you know what to do about these nasty virus's, then take this as a simple warning waving red flags. BE MORE VIGALENT!

If you don't have a clue, then you need to follow these simple instructions immediately.

Be aware that its not e-mail that causes the problems, or a newsletter like this one, but the files which may be attached to them. You should know that they are present and must take action to download and execute them. If you don't know what you are doing and/or don't have virus protection that is up to date NEVER, NEVER, NEVER download a file from the internet or put a disk from anyone in your computer.
Purchase a virus protection program immediately, get it working and learn how to use it. I recommend Norton or McAfee. I use both on different systems. If it slows your work down, be thankful. That means it is working. It's kind of like having a cop patrolling your neighborhood. You may not care for him watching everything you do and the fact that you have to drive the speed limit, but have a heart attack or your house catch fire and you will kiss his feet for being there.
If your program is old upgrade it or get a new one.
Keep your virus data files up to date. Most programs do this almost automatically when you are on the internet provided you have the program set up correctly.
BE VIGILANT, when that cop is not looking the burglar may hit you. You can't expect him to be able to protect you from everything in the world. Follow these simple rules:

	Never download a file from someone you do not know. And if you do know them check with them and verify that they sent you the file and that it is safe. If I send you a file you will know from the body of my e-mail what it is, why I sent it and I will tell you that it has been checked and is safe. Others who know what they are doing will do the same.
	Never click on a file from someone unless you are sure it is safe.
	If the e-mail message doesn't make sense and has a file attached, it most likely is a virus. For instance, most people who send you an e-mail will have your name, a personal message and a salutation of some kind with their name. If you don't do that, now is a good time to start. Most e-mails with virus files attached attempt to look personal but aren't. You can tell the difference. If it has a file attached and doesn't look like the e-mails you usually get from that person don't touch it. Send them a e-mail asking if they sent it, what it is about and advise that they may have a virus on there computer. Don't delete the e-mail. If it does contain a virus the person who sent it may need it to determine what it is and how to deal with it. If so click forward, not reply and send it back to them with a message that you think the attached file may contain a virus.
	Learn about file name extensions. If the file has an extension (that's what's after the . at the end) that you don't recognize then it may be a virus.

If you do get a virus, or think you may have one, disconnect your computer from the Internet, shut it down and if you don't know what you are doing find someone who does. Don't just ignore it. You will infect others and possibly cause great havoc to your system and theirs.

Here are some links to helpful sites about virus protection you should be able to click on them to get there. If not copy and paste the address into your web browser:

http://www.symantec.com/product/home-is.html

http://macfee.com/

Here is where you can learn about the virus I have been talking about:

http://www.sarc.com/avcenter/venc/data/w32.sircam.worm@mm.html

http://clinic.mcafee.com/clinic/ibuy/campaign.asp?cid=2360

I know this has nothing to do with home inspections, but it has everything to do with your and my protection and that of all of our associates, family and friends and I thought it important enough to spend some time with. Next week, back to the old home inspection grind.

Thought for the week

"Don't be a fool, protect yourself."