ON JO ASENNETTU
ICHT DEAKTIVIERT WERDEN -- MAUS MENU IST AKTIVE

That was the message that came up last weekend when my uncle turned on his computer in Virginia. Then ... Nothing. The system would go no further. After five frustrating hours spent with his neighbor/consultant... my phone rang. I spent the next hour trying to talk him through some options. He explained that he had run McAfee Anti-Virus from a bootable floppy. He had downloaded the latest update (January 30) of McAfee from CompuServe. He had even tried to reload DOS and run the Microsoft Anti-Virus. Nothing would work. His computer was only a few months old, and he finally had his 500 Mb hard drive set-up and loaded just the way he wanted. He was frustrated, confused and feeling violated. I tried to console him, offering ways to save what he could from his system. Unfortunately, I was quite sure that I wasn't the one to cure his virus if McAfee couldn't.

How do you catch a virus?

Catching a virus is similar to catching a cold. An innocent, everyday act can put you in contact with someone who doesn't show symptoms of a virus; the next thing you know you're sick. Any time you allow data from another source onto your computer you become susceptible to catching a virus. A virus is not a "computer bug." It also isn't the computer taking on a life of it's own like HAL in 2001. Someone has to intentionally create a program that will disrupt your normal operations. A virus is a crime similar to vandalism.

If you download files over the modem from your print shop, from a friend or from a variety of other sources, you run the risk of infection. The major online services are probably the safest, as they take extreme precautions to prevent virus infections. An epidemic traced back to them would be devastating to business. In my uncle's case, his son had simply dialed into his college bulletin board to download job announcements. Unfortunately, a BBS is not the only way to become infected. You can also catch a virus from trading disks with other computer users. Sharing games or data can seem like a great idea, until you turn on the computer and it says "You've been stoned."

How can you prevent it?

Several years ago, when the "Michelangelo" virus threatened us all on the Ides of March, the computer industry responded promptly with several products in every price range to protect the innocent computer user from a data destructive virus. Central Point Anti-Virus is quite popular as is Symantec's - Norton Anti-Virus. Most of these products provide periodic updates as the manufacturers find and cure the latest viruses. When Michelangelo hit the streets, all the vendors released information and updates to their anti-virus software. Even Microsoft DOS has bundled an Anti-Virus routine in version 6.2.

We use Intel's LANProtect for network and workstation virus protection. Like the other products mentioned, LANProtect provides several levels of protection. It can be set to check every file that comes into the fileserver during the course of the day. In addition, it can be set to check every file that comes into a station through the floppy drive. And, for the best protection, it can be set to do a full "virus sweep" of all files on the network on a periodic basis (usually weekly). This minimizes the day-to-day interruption of virus checking on the end-user. Whatever your budget, be sure to pick one of these products and keep it updated.

How do you cure a virus?

If you find that you have a virus, and it is a known virus, you can run your anti-virus software to repair the files. The basic idea behind an anti-virus software is fairly straightforward. You install the software and it marks your files by name, date of creation, and size. The next time you run the anti-virus software, it compares what's there now with what was there the last time it checked. If a discrepancy is noted, a more advanced virus-checking routine is performed. On a product that does a continuous check, a file will be reviewed as it's saved for any known virus forms that might be attached.

If your anti-virus program is unable to cure the virus, its time to get in touch with the manufacturer. They are usually quite interested in finding a new "strain," and their technical support people can give you additional ideas on ways to save your data. If they can't help you, you will likely be forced to restore your files from a backup tape created before the virus was contracted. (See last months issue for backup system information). Of course, the best way to beat a virus is to prevent it from ever getting on your system,. You can do this by only dialing in to known, protected bulletin board systems and by minimizing the trading of your data and programs on floppy disks. In the meantime, good luck and "Beware the Ides of March!!"

A final Note:

Data is an association's most important asset. In the last three months we have talked about power protection, tape back-ups, and anti-virus software. This triad of insurance will protect your association's data against most enemies. In these tight budget times, it is important to protect your investment, not just in equipment but in the time it required to get all your data set- up and accurate. Whether you use Macs or PC's, single stations or large networks, you must find a combination of products to fit your budget and protect your data!! I encourage you to log back-ups and virus checks, test your uninterruptible power source and take the necessary precautions to protect your investment.

- Jaculin Thompson