Preventing virus infection

Although some software viruses are passive, all are invasive. Many can endanger a company's productivity by destroying its valuable data.

You can keep viruses off the network by educating users about virus dangers and by enforcing procedures that reduce virus risks, such as the following:

• Back up data frequently.

• Maintain layers of archived backups, so that you can retrieve a backup from a pre-infected file.

• Keep a write-protected, bootable disk with the latest virus scan and removal software for all servers and workstations.

• Keep a backup of executable files and flag them X (Execute Only).

• Educate yourself about the infection techniques of the latest viruses.

• Educate network users about how to detect viruses.

• Warn users of the dangers of viruses. Discourage them from using diskettes and files that have been in computers away from work.

• Teach users to turn off their workstations immediately when encountering a virus.

• Restrict access to a server's floppy diskette drives by locking the server in a secure room. Put tape over the floppy diskette drive opening to remind yourself not to use it unnecessarily.

• Avoid using the Supervisor account when possible. The fewer privileges your login account has, the less power a virus has to destroy data and to spread.