Compaq 1400 - Manual (Page 45)

P RESARIO N OTEBOOK B EYOND S ETUP G UIDE C OMMON T ASKS 4-5
1400 S ERIES
Anti-Virus
Software
Compaq provides anti-virus
scanning and free software
updates for one year through
the Internet.
Using Anti-Virus Software
A virus is a program that attaches
itself to a file on your Notebook
and then spreads from one file to
another. Viruses can damage
data, cause computers to
malfunction, and display
annoying or offensive messages.
Some viruses may go unnoticed
for long periods of time because
they are activated on a certain
date or time. Protect your
Notebook from a virus by:
• Using an anti-virus scanning program to scan for viruses
on your drives or diskettes. This scanning program is
located in the Start menu. If you need help using the
program, select Help in the menu bar.
• Backing up your files periodically to diskettes, a separate
hard drive, or a high-capacity storage drive.
• Write-protecting diskettes. A virus cannot infect a
write-protected diskette.
• Obtaining all software from reputable sources and
checking the software for viruses before installing it.
• Using your anti-virus program to check files and programs
that are on diskettes, attached to e-mail messages, or
downloaded from the Internet.
• Disabling macros on suspicious Microsoft Word and
Excel files. These programs warn you if a document that
you are opening contains a macro that might have a virus.
• Updating your anti-virus program periodically to keep up
with new viruses.