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Good computing practices help prevent virus attacks
25 - 10 - 2001
Computer users are advised to adopt good computing practices
to keep their computer virus-free.
"Protecting our computers against virus attacks is very important
nowadays when computers are commonly and widely used in our
home and offices," said a spokesman for the Information Technology
Services Department (ITSD) today (October 25).
"Typical payload of computer virus can range from creating annoyances
such as affecting the mouse, keyboard or other computer functions,
to more destructive actions like modifying or deleting files,
or exposing secret information from the hard disk of the victim's
computer.
"Some computer virus may format the hard disk to corrupt all
data stored inside the computer.
"Besides, there are also computer virus that will create mass
mailing or scanning traffic not only to turn infected computers
into a platform for launching further attacks to other computers,
but also to consume mailbox storage and network bandwidth.
"As a result, the network and computer systems will be overloaded
and the normal operation of the network and computer systems
will be seriously affected," said the spokesman.
He noted that the impact was particularly significant due to
the current highly inter-connected computer network environment.
"To avoid such inconveniences and losses, we should take effective
computing practices to prevent our computers from virus infections.
In fact, such practices are simple and easy," said the spokesman.
Computer virus may arrive from shared files in servers, e-mails
from friends and colleagues, files downloaded from the Internet
and worst still, some computers or CD-ROMs are pre-installed
with virus.
To protect computers against virus attacks, it is an effective
way for the users to comply with the following safe computing
practices:
- install virus scanning and cleaning software in each computer;
- update regularly the virus scanning software from the supplier
to detect new viruses;
- scan the computer regularly with virus scanning software;
- scan any downloaded files and e-mail attachments from the
Internet for viruses before opening them;
- keep abreast with the vulnerability patches and security update
of your computer software;
- switch off automatic processing of e-mail attachments in the
Internet e-mail software;
- scan floppy disks, compact disks and other storage media,
especially those of unknown sources, with virus scanning software
before use;
- backup your programs and data regularly; and
- change your password periodically to prevent password hacking.
To enhance the public's knowledge on computer virus, ITSD has
uploaded the latest information on computer virus onto its web
site (http://www.itsd.gov.hk/itsd/virus/)
for public reference.
ITSD has also produced a publicity leaflet containing information
on effective and proper computing practices to guard against
computer viruses for free public collection.
The leaflet is also available on the ITSD web site (http://www.itsd.gov.hk/itsd/about/epubdoc.htm)
for public reference and free downloading.
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