Click OK. 7. Close the My Account dialog box.

Chapter 13 ✦ Accessing the Network You can set the properties on most antivirus programs. In most cases, you can tell the pro- gram to load when you boot the computer and then scan files of various types. You also tell the program how to react to finding a virus — whether to alert you or the entire network, quarantine or delete the infected file, and so on. You also must be careful with antivirus programs. Some programs can cause problems with computer or networking hardware, operating systems, and even other programs on the com- puter. To help guard against problems, buy only reputable brand name antivirus programs. Free antivirus programs are not usually worth the time it takes to download them. If your computer, network, or programs have problems, disable the antivirus program and see if that helps alleviate your trouble. You also might check the Internet for reported problems. Looking closer at viruses Computer viruses infect other programs by copying themselves into the program. They also try to hide within the program by encrypting themselves. Many viruses mutate slightly every time they replicate, so as to escape detection. Viruses can even mutate and replicate from computer to computer on a private network. You have to watch out for all sorts of attacks: viruses, worms, Trojan horses, and even hoaxes. If you have a question about a virus or you need to fix a virus your antivirus program missed, check the Symantec site: www.sarc.com. Nuisances and viruses One of the worst viruses to date is Klez with variations called W32.Klez.Hmm, Klez A, Klez D, Klez E, Klez H, and anything with Klez in the name. This virus is a mass-mailing e-mail worm. Klez is difficult to remove once it gets a hold of your computer. Klez fills the hard drive with trash and garbage while destroying data and overwriting files. Then, it travels across your network easily and efficiently. If you discover a virus on any computer connected to your network, the first thing to do is unplug the cable from the network so the virus cannot travel to other computers. If you’re using a wireless network, turn the infected computer off until you can verify the safety of the other computers. Unplug the access point near the infected computer before turning it back on to apply a fix. Some viruses do more than make copies of themselves: They issue instructions that disrupt the computer’s normal processes. Viruses often use the computer’s clock to trigger the disruption — from displaying a message to crashing a hard disk. The Michelangelo virus is one of those that activates according to the clock: Yearly, on March 6, Michelangelo’s birth- day, the virus takes over your hard disk. There are other types of nuisances, and not all are classified as viruses: ✦ The Melissa virus, for example, is actually a Microsoft Word macro. Macros are mini- programs that run when a file is opened or you actually initiate the macro. Many pro- grams use macros — Word and WordPerfect, for example — and even let you create macros that can make your work easier and help you complete tasks more quickly. However, there are macros that can activate within a program and destroy your docu- ments. Melissa travels in a Word document and is activated only when the document is opened in Word. If you don’t open the document containing the macro, the macro isn’t activated. Melissa is contained in a file attached to e-mail messages. Tip Note