Gateway 450 - Manual (Page 223)

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Chapter 13: Maintaining Your Computer
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Protecting your computer from
viruses
A virus is a program that attaches itself to a file on a computer, then spreads
from one computer to another. Viruses can damage data or cause your computer
to malfunction. Some viruses go undetected for a period of time because they
are activated on a certain date.
Protect your computer from a virus by:
■ Using the Norton
®
AntiVirus program to check files and programs that are
on diskettes, attached to e-mail messages, or downloaded from the
Internet.
■ Checking all programs for viruses before installing them.
■ Disabling macros on suspicious Microsoft Word and Excel files. These
programs will warn you if a document that you are opening contains a
macro that might have a virus.
■ Periodically updating the Norton AntiVirus program to protect against the
latest viruses.
Help and
Support
For more information about protecting your computer
against viruses in Windows XP, click Start, then click Help
and Support.
Type the keyword viruses in the HelpSpot Search box
, then click the arrow.