Viruses & Worms - How Can I Protect Myself?

Omega Internet Services does provide both virus and spam filtering through email, but we offer no guarantees. Every day new viruses are coming out. Some are just a minor annoyance but most of them can cause serious damage and loss of data on your computer. No internet service provider can promise that something will not slip through the filter. If you do not have virus protection on your computer that updates itself at least once a week and scans all of your email your computer is vulnerable!!!

Omega Internet Services can only filter what comes through email but there are many other ways to contract viruses and worms. There are many viruses and worms that use Windows XP exploits to infect your computer within minutes of getting on the internet that do not travel through email. The best way to protect yourself from those is to make sure both your Windows and Anti-Virus are up to date.

You can also get viruses through sharing files through floppy disks or CD's with friends or by downloading files through programs such as Kazaa or Morpheus. Omega Internet Services, Inc. highly recommends Symantecs Norton Anti-Virus. Over the years Norton Anti-Virus has proven to be the most effective, reliable, and easy to use means for protecting computers.

Virus Protection Checklist

1. Make sure your Windows has all of the latest Critical Updates installed.
2. Make sure you have Anti-Virus software that is filtering your email and keep it up to date. (It should connect to the internet and download updates at least once a week)
3. Do not open emails that look suspicious especially attachments.
4. If you still are not sure or have any questions, call The Paraclete Group at 620-276-3422

What if I suspect I am infected already?

If you suspect that you are already infected by a virus PLEASE CALL THE PARACLETE GROUP IMMEDIATELY!!! (620-276-3422) They can kill the virus on your computer as well as usually fix the damage that the virus has caused. Do not waste any time on this. The moment you get on the internet your infected computer will begin to spread the virus or worm to other computers on the internet, most often to your friends and family in your address book.

Don't think that it won't happen to you, just because it has never happened before, or because you only open email from people you know. 90% of viruses are contracted from people that they know and trusted and some do not even require that you open an attachment. It may cost a little bit of money to protect yourself now, but it will save you lots of money, time, and headaches in the future.