What can I do to help stop the spread of viruses?
Safe and responsible computing not only benefits you, but those contacts you may have via e-mail or message boards. Here are some tips to help stop a virus from spreading and keep the possibilities of unwanted e-mail "junk mail" down.

1. Always remove everyones address you can see from a forwarded e-mail before you decide to forward it again. Should you decide to send it to multiple receipients, use the "Bcc" "Blind carbon" copy feature of your e-mail program. If you dont see it in Outlook Express, click "View" then click "All Headers"

2. Update and run Ad-Aware, Spybot or anyother adware removal program often. These Spyware programs often accumulate e-mail addresses from your e-mail program for the purpose of sending out advertising to you and all your contacts(Spam). Thats why it is important to remove other e-mail addresses from forwarded e-mails. You would'nt want to be resopnsible for a virus sending its self out to all these people should your computer become infected.

3. Update Windows. New security patches seem to come out of Microsoft almost daily.

4. Manually update your anti-virus program to make sure it is running. If it tells you you are up to date for more then two weeks, and you dont notice any automated updates happening, be suspicious. You may have had a virus shut down your anti-virus program. No kidding. It happens! 

5. Dont leave your e-mail address with any site other then trusted ones. Also, it is a good idea not to publish your e-mail address on a website, MSN or Yahoo group or bulliten board. There are robot programs that constantly surf the internet looking for any group of letters or numbers with the  @ sign in the middle. If you must post your e-mail for others to read, use the word "at" instead of the @ sign like this: rvjock1 at hotmail.com .

6. Open a "junk" mail account if you like to send e-cards or play online games. MSN and Yahoo are excellent choices and have wonderfull "spam"  and virus protection. And they are FREE!
Give this e-mail out if you have to and save your main progam for serious mail.
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