This months Tips & Tricks Titiles are

• Tips for writing CDs

• Printing pictures tips

• Antivirus software overview

Antivirus software overview

The Internet is full of fun places and vast amounts of information, but also some dangers. Your computer can be damaged by a computer virus sent through e-mail or through a program downloaded from the Web. If you do not use antivirus software, you run the risk of passing viruses along to other computers as well. If you administer a network without virus protection software, all of the computers on your network might be vulnerable.

What are viruses, worms, and Trojan horses?

What is a virus?

A virus is a program that can copy itself and infect various parts of your computer, such as documents, programs, and parts of your operating system. Most viruses attach themselves to a file or part of your hard disk and then copy themselves to other places within the operating system. Some viruses contain code that inflicts extra damage by deleting files or lowering your security settings, inviting further attacks.

What is a worm?

A worm is a program that makes copies of itself and can spread outside your operating system; it can copy itself from one computer to another by using e-mail or another transport mechanism. Worms can damage computer data and security in much the same ways as viruses, but are different from viruses in that they copy themselves from system to system.

What is a Trojan horse?

A Trojan horse is a harmless-looking program designed to trick you into thinking it is something you want, but which performs harmful acts when it runs. It is typically received through downloads from the Internet. Trojan horses do not spread by themselves like viruses and worms. Most virus protection programs only detect a limited number of Trojan horses. A good way to help protect your computer from Trojan horses is to visit only Web sites you trust, and avoid downloading things unless you trust the source as well.

How do antivirus programs help protect my computer?

Antivirus programs scan e-mail and other files on your computer for viruses, worms, and Trojan horses. If a virus, worm, or Trojan horse is found, the antivirus program either quarantines it or deletes it entirely before it damages your computer and files.

Some companies that make antivirus programs provide regular updates for viruses. Many antivirus programs have an automatic update capability. When your antivirus software is updated, new viruses are added to a list of viruses to check for, protecting your computer from new attacks. If your antivirus updates are not automatic, I recommend that you check for updates on a frequent basis because new viruses are identified every day. If the antivirus program you are using requires a subscription, we strongly recommended that you keep the subscription current to receive regular updates. If your list of viruses is out of date, your computer is vulnerable to new threats.

Where can I get an antivirus program?

There are many antivirus programs on the market.I use AVG FREE