APRIL FOOLS DAY VIRUS ALERT

Just to remind you that the Conficker virus looks set to go out from midnight tonight.


Copyright-free image from Tack-o-Rama



The usual April Fool's Day fun (not). This warning was sent to me by Dawn (GoldBettyBoop). God bless you, girl!

Here are the links:

• Yahoo
• Snopes re Conficker

So can I PLEASE urge you all to update your virus checkers and firewalls.

Here is the Microsoft link to install the Windows Live OneCare scanner (free) which will eradicate the virus. You need to download this via Internet Explorer (not Firefox) and then run it - it will take several hours to do a full scan, so allow yourself enough time.

And if you have just one password for all of your stuff (your bank, PayPal & eBay etc) please change it so you have separate passwords - a mix of letters and numbers is best. Just think of something off the top of your head, the sillier the better. And don't forget to write them down - this means NOT typing a list on your computer and saving it, by the way. Keep a little book by your computer and hand write this stuff in. If you get a trojan or the Conficker virus, they will go through your entire system and rip any passwords you may have thought you hid there. Also any banking details.

Whilst you are at it, you might as well do a little housekeeping:

• Go to Accessories > System Tools > ScanDisc to remove any clutter in your system
• Go back to System Tools and Defragment
• Back to System Tools to create a System Restore point
• Back up all your stuff onto CDs or DVDs or an external hard drive
• Go to Microsoft/Windows Update for the latest downloads
  

I know this is something we don't usually bother to do regularly (although you should be updating your Virus Checker & Firewall at least twice a week, and running Scan Disc and Defragment weekly) so you might as well do it all now for your own peace of mind.

After all that, your computer should be skipping around like a newborn lamb and you should have all the latest security stuff ready to swing into action to protect you.

And the usual common-sense stuff: don't open any weird-looking emails or attachments (run a scan first if you think you need to see them) and if you get emails from any banking groups, insurance companies etc - or eBay or PayPal - don't click on any links the email. Go to the company's main website and then go into your account to see any messages. There are a lot of clever spoofs out there, and the web pages LOOK genuine, but aren't (I got caught that way).

I'm sure you'll think I am paranoid - but better safe than sorry.