November 2000                         Volume 6, Issue 5

Coping with Viruses

The dreaded virus unfortunately attacked a number of our team in recent weeks. Fortunately we were able to isolate and protect you, our client.  There were three strains doing the rounds and one of them at least, had the ability to change its name when transferring to other victims.  Often they ended in .txt.pif.  What can we learn from this?  And how can we prevent further attacks?

First, and most important, is to treat every single attachment with suspicion.  Don’t open it, unless you know what it is that you’re opening.  I know Word will often open up instead of giving the opportunity to save first to disk.  Most other attachments will prompt you to save first, instead of opening.

HTML coded email can also carry viruses, particular the kak.worm, and if you’re using Outlook it will appear as a small blue squiggle in place of where the paper clip for attachments is always viewed.  That doesn’t mean however that all emails received with the blue squiggle is carrying the worm –often the email received has an Active X Control, necessary for that particular html coding.  I use Norton’s Antivirus – it has been a good source of protection for my business and I make sure it is always updated.  If I view a html coded email with the blue squiggle, as soon as I go to double click on it, to fully open, or to send it to print, Norton’s will prevent me from doing so, with a warning message that it has the worm.  If the message doesn’t come up, I can send to print!

Second important action:  ALWAYS have a virus protection software operating in the background of your system and ALWAYS run the live updates.  If your scanning protection doesn’t have a live update facility – then get rid of it and get a virus protection software program that does offer this.  Viruses are being created every week and passed around – they’re a fact of life in the Internet world and you need to be always protected.  If your business (and computer) is your livelihood, then you must view virus protection as necessary insurance – and it is not costly to organise, but very costly to fix.

Develop a routine of doing live updates on a regular basis – my Norton’s is scheduled to log in at 8:00pm every Friday night, but if I become aware of new viruses mid week that are running rife, then I will log in immediately and do a new download.

Third action:  If you do receive a virus, immediately delete the infected file, and then DELETE IT FROM THE TRASHCAN so it is no longer in your system.  You should then email the person who sent it to you warning them not to send out any more emails until they have resolved the problem.  I have had a few clients who unfortunately have had the kak.worm infection and I cannot work on their files that they send me until it is cleared.  I have to delete the files on receipt and tell them I can’t do anything for them until such time they have gotten rid of the infection.  I have to refuse to open myself to infection and the possibility of not being to able to do the work for many hours or days to prevent infection.

Fourth action:  Register with a virus reporting newsletter such as Trendsetter, which can be found at http://www.antivirus.com/trendsetter/virus
_report/ which will keep you informed of the latest things happening.  Just this week the top three are kak.worm, troj.mtx.a and troj.qaz.a – and we’ve experienced all three amongst the group.  The website also lists current hoaxes and there is a weekly newsletter you can receive.

Here is some wise advise from their site:
Here are some points to remember when receiving or reading email messages: 
 1.       If you receive an email with an attached file from an unknown source, simply delete it.

Thank you to Donna Coggins from QLD who recently passed on some information with relation to helping businesses prepare for their GST and Business Activity Statements.  For those in Australia using our services with this change in our Taxation structure, it is important to note that we are not registered Tax Agents and we cannot legally advise a business on their BAS preparation.  We can however, do all your data entry.  We can then assist with the preparation of the BAS if under the guidance of your own accountant, or a registered Tax Agent.  It is also important to note that both MYOB and Quicken/ QuickBooks didn’t get it right on the calculations of GST.  Please do follow up the suppliers of your particular program to get upgrades, and check with your accountants for the latest news.  I received an email from QuickBooks on Friday 10^th November (day before BAS were due to be in) advising of an update!!! 

Seen our site lately?  It is regularly updated and added to.  Please take time to visit.

New members who have joined our ranks recently:

Maria E. Fitzgerald Co. Waterford, Ireland, vaassist@eircom.net 
Anne Graebner Woodville South SA, glenro@adam.com.au
Jennifer Heward Cammeray NSW, jheward@kig.com.au
Maggie Lowe Lilydale Vic, loweville@virtual.net.au
Joanne Morgan Para Hills SA, jomorgan@chariot.net.au
Carole Oliver Wendouree Vic, theolivers@wxc.com.au
Annie Pateman Beaconsfield Vic, patea@ozemail.com.au
Lyn Prowse-Bishop Oxley QLD, executivestress@softhome.net
Andrea Schujman Brighton Vic, aschujman@unite.com.au
Daphne Siu Oatley NSW, dssiu@one.net.au
Patricia Margaret Smith Edithvale Vic, archer@optusnet.com.au
Teri Southwell Carlton NSW, terisouthwell@dingoblue.net.au

Members may charge differently as they are independent contractors.

Kathie M. Thomas
AFAIOP, ASM

Box Planet
www.boxplanet.com.au 

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