Do not open attachments unless you -
A: have active and fully up to date anti-virus protection that scans incoming email attachments and files as they are opened or executed;
and
B: know the sender intended to send the attachment (you are expecting it and it was not emailed by a virus on his computer);
and
C: Have installed all Windows Updates available for your computer and OS.
and
D: have one or more fully updated anti spyware and anti-trojan programs that alert you in real time to anything that tries to install itself into system folders, and/or the system registry, and/or your browser, or establishes itself as a Windows Service.
and
E: Have an active software firewall that prevents unauthorized incoming and outgoing connections, from unapproved applications (pops up a challenge and waits for your response before allowing the connection).
or
F: you are running with lowered user privileges (Limited user, Power user), thus mitigating any damage an infected file can wreak on your computer, if any at all, and have a hardware firewall between the Internet and your computer.
and
G: are not connecting to the Internet through an unsecured wireless access point/router and not-locked-down wireless card on your computer.
------------------
Bob "Wiz" Feinberg
Moderator of the SGF Computers Forum
Visit my Wiztunes Steel Guitar website at: http://www.wiztunes.com/
or my computer troubleshooting website: Wizcrafts Computer Services,
or my Webmaster Services webpage.
Learn about current computer virus and security threats here.
Read Wiz's Blog for security news and update notices[This message was edited by Wiz Feinberg on 03 May 2006 at 02:36 PM.]