New Comp Virus

[Wade E]

Watch it everyone! A new virus has just been discovered that has been classified by Microsoft as the most destructive ever. This virus was discovered yesterday afternoon by McAfee . This virus simply destroys Sector Zero from the hard disk, where vital information for its functioning are stored. This virus acts in the following manner:

It sends itself automatically to all contacts on your list with the title:

'You've received a Post Card from a Family member'.


As soon as the supposed virtual card is opened the computer freezes so that the user has to reboot. When the ctrl+alt+ del. keys or the reset button are pressed, the virus destroys Sector Zero, thus permanently destroying the hard disk.

If only we could get these brilliant people that create these viruses to do good instead of evil.

 

[PeterZ]

That is a class of virus known as a boot sector virus. I got hit by one of those many years ago.


One of the rasons that these things work is that most people give themselves full administrator rights on their log in ID's. It is far better to set up two user ID's - one as administrator and the other as just user. Day to day activities should be only as the user ID. Since a user is not allowed to install any programs a virus cannot do as much damage as it can when the user has admin rights.


I'm not sure if that would help against this virus, but it does add another level of protection.

 

[Wade E]

Good idea Peter!