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Unfortunately, that is a very limiting way to use a computer. You should
regularly check your computer for viruses (not all viruses act immediately,
some are set to engage when a function is performed or when a specific
date and time arrives). There are programs designed for checking for virus-
es on your system and eliminating those viruses if found. If you have been
making regular backups of your data, you should be able to survive infec-
tion by a virus with minimal damage. If you use your modem to upload
and download files regularly, you should be sure that you are checking the
files for viruses. Many antivirus programs will check files as they are
received by the modem, this can include checking information as it is
accessed from the World Wide Web.
If your system is infected with a virus, you will usually need to boot
from a bootable floppy disk (if you have the optional USB Floppy Drive)
or CD-ROM or CD-R that you are sure is free of infection. You should
consider carrying a write-protected boot disk with your computer, to
allow for a clean boot wherever you might be using your system.
Passwords/System Security
There are a number of opportunities that you will have to use passwords
to protect your system or your data. Keep in mind that a good password
should be easy to remember, but should not be a word or number that could
easily be guessed or that might be easily discovered in your other posses-
sions. A good password should also be as long as possible (within the lim-
its of your password utility) and should contain a combination of numbers
and letters (and non-alphanumeric characters-such as punctuation marks-
where permissible).
7.18
Series
User’s Manual
New viruses come along
frequently. You should
update your virus software
regularly (most virus software
manufacturers have an update
service) to keep your system
secure from new viruses.
X Manual WinME w/photos 2/01/01 3/19/01 4:24 PM Page 130