There have been a number of really bad viruses just within the past 6 months. We've seen the W32.Beagle, W32.Netsky, MyDoom, and so on. Most of these viruses were transported or replicated from pc to pc-using email attachments. These are easy to spot if you're paying attention, simply because they are usually executable files, but not always.
Some attachments contain Macros (simple programs that run within other programs, all the titles in Microsoft Office use macros). If you're not that familiar with spotting file extensions, don't worry, that's what I'm here to talk about today. If you are a little hazy on the whole "file extension" thing then let's spend a few moments explaining it.
File extensions are what tell the program how to treat a particular piece of data. For example, most people are somewhat familiar with .doc or a .txt file extensions these are both text documents and when the user opens this file the Operating System looks at this extension and then knows how to open it.
Hackers try to use some sort of eye-grabbing ploy to get you to open their email and activate the virus, which is always an attachment. Most Anti-virus nowadays stops, or at least warns, you of these high risk attachments and even take measures to protect you. However, on the average 10-15 new viruses are created every day and I personally wouldn't count on any program to 100% protect my pc. That's why I scrutinize any email, if I wasn't expecting an attachment, I won't open it until I had a chance to talk to the sender.
Some of the more common file types used to hide viruses include:
.scr - Windows Screen Saver - USE CAUTION if you receive a screen saver via email. They can contain worms or viruses
.pif - DO NOT OPEN! This is most likely a virus. Clicking it will run a program or code that can mess up your computer.
.exe - executable file - a program that contains a virus, Trojan horse, or worm
.pps - MS PowerPoint (can contain macro virus)
.zip - Zip (compressed) file
.vbs - Visual Basic script
.bat - Executable MS-DOS batch file
.com - DOS executable command
.asp - active server page - internet script
.doc - Word document (can contain macro virus)
.xls - Excel file (can contain macro virus)
This is in no way a complete list. Just because an attachment may have one of these extensions doesn't mean that it is a virus, but it should send up warning flags. Hackers use clever subject lines, and viruses can appear to come from a friend so keep on your toes and don't fall victim to their deceptive traps. Scan those attachments and verify with the sender before opening.
Saturday, July 31, 2010
Scanner Cleaning Tips
Digital scanner is a very popular input device. Its main purpose to translate images and text printed on the paper into electronic form that can be processed and stored by the computer.
To clean the scanner first unplugs your system power from the electrical outlet.
Always clean the glass of your scanner with any optical surface cleaning fluid.
This process should be done after every three months if you want to save your scanner life.
To clean the scanner first unplugs your system power from the electrical outlet.
Always clean the glass of your scanner with any optical surface cleaning fluid.
This process should be done after every three months if you want to save your scanner life.
Laser Printer Cleaning Tips
Laser printer is the fastest, high quality and more expensive than inkjet printers and their printer quality is also higher. The print quality and printing speed of laser printers make ideal for offices and business. The printer is the most commonly used output device in office environment. That is why printer required extra care as compare to the other parts of the computer. There is no any difficulty to clean a printer if you have proper cleaning tools and methods.
Never place your printer on the ground, always use table or shelf for this purpose.
If you have the printer manufacturer manual, first read about on how to safe and clean it.
Now disconnect your printer from the back side of the computer and unplug power from the electrical outlet.
First use the compressed air to clean dust, toner powder from the outside and inner side of the printer.
Use lightly dampened cloth or cleaning fluid to clean the body of the printer and avoid to spraying fluid near any holes on the printer.
Use paper towel to clean the toner and brush to clean the inside of the printer.
Always cover your printer with dust cover when you are not using it
Never place your printer on the ground, always use table or shelf for this purpose.
If you have the printer manufacturer manual, first read about on how to safe and clean it.
Now disconnect your printer from the back side of the computer and unplug power from the electrical outlet.
First use the compressed air to clean dust, toner powder from the outside and inner side of the printer.
Use lightly dampened cloth or cleaning fluid to clean the body of the printer and avoid to spraying fluid near any holes on the printer.
Use paper towel to clean the toner and brush to clean the inside of the printer.
Always cover your printer with dust cover when you are not using it
Mouse Cleaning Tips
The mouse is the most commonly used pointing device in windows environment on the personal computers. That is why mouse required extra care as compare to the other parts of the computer. You should clean your mouse when you feel the mouse is slow to move in different directions or making some strange movements.
First disconnect your mouse from the back side of the computer.
Now read the mouse manufacturer manual about your mouse model on how to safe and clean it.
Open the ball cover from the back side of the mouse and wash the ball then dry it with cloth.
Now clean dust in the inner side of the mouse specially removes the dust on the rollers with lightly dampened cotton bud. You can use the compressed air for this purpose.
At the end dry it and Re-assemble your mouse then connect with computer.
First disconnect your mouse from the back side of the computer.
Now read the mouse manufacturer manual about your mouse model on how to safe and clean it.
Open the ball cover from the back side of the mouse and wash the ball then dry it with cloth.
Now clean dust in the inner side of the mouse specially removes the dust on the rollers with lightly dampened cotton bud. You can use the compressed air for this purpose.
At the end dry it and Re-assemble your mouse then connect with computer.
LCD Cleaning Tips
Flat panel monitors are commonly used in mobile devices such as laptop and table PCs. Similarly, smart phones, PDAs calculators have LCD screens. LCD screens are much softer than old CRT screens, so they required extra care as compare to the CRT Monitors.
First read the LCD manufacturer manual about your LCD model on how to safe and clean it.
To clean LCD monitor first unplugs your LCD power from the electrical outlet.
Never use dirty cloth, spray any cleaning fluids on the LCD screen and paper towel to dry it.
Always use dry cotton cloth to clean the fingerprints and dust on the LCD screen. You can use lightly dampened soft cloth if you feel any difficulty to clean the screen.
First read the LCD manufacturer manual about your LCD model on how to safe and clean it.
To clean LCD monitor first unplugs your LCD power from the electrical outlet.
Never use dirty cloth, spray any cleaning fluids on the LCD screen and paper towel to dry it.
Always use dry cotton cloth to clean the fingerprints and dust on the LCD screen. You can use lightly dampened soft cloth if you feel any difficulty to clean the screen.
Keyboard Cleaning Tips
When the appearance of your computer keyboard is looking dirty, yellowish or some keys creating problem to work properly then you can understand about inner side of your keyboard keys dirty as outside.
To clean keyboard first shut down your computer then disconnect the keyboard.
Now use the compressed air with long nozzle and start clean all keys.
Use lightly dampened cloth or spray any cleaning fluids on the keyboard keys and use paper towel to dry it.
Try to use any cover of keyboard if you are working in high-dust environments.
Always be careful to eat or drink around the computer.
To clean keyboard first shut down your computer then disconnect the keyboard.
Now use the compressed air with long nozzle and start clean all keys.
Use lightly dampened cloth or spray any cleaning fluids on the keyboard keys and use paper towel to dry it.
Try to use any cover of keyboard if you are working in high-dust environments.
Always be careful to eat or drink around the computer.
Headphones Cleaning Tips
You should clean your headphones on the regular basis because headphones are used by multiple people so that there are chances of spreading germs from one person to another.
Never leave your headphone in the sunlight because it can damage the magnet of headphone.
To clean the general area of headphone using lightly dampened cloth or spray any cleaning fluids.
Always use lightly dampened cloth with warm water to rub the head and earpieces of the headphones.
You should keep your headphones by hanging on the wall hook.
Never leave your headphone in the sunlight because it can damage the magnet of headphone.
To clean the general area of headphone using lightly dampened cloth or spray any cleaning fluids.
Always use lightly dampened cloth with warm water to rub the head and earpieces of the headphones.
You should keep your headphones by hanging on the wall hook.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)