May 13

Lamenting the Love Bug
Sun Review May 13, 2000

Last week's "Love Bug" epidemic was another virus wake up call for computer users. Once activated, the virus sent copies automatically to hundreds of other Internet users, overwhelming computer networks and destroying files. It spread so rapidly around the world that most virus warnings did not arrive in time. Yet even after intense media coverage, people were still continuing to open e-mail attachments.

When we make computers easier to use, they're also easier to abuse. Virus writers received a large audience - and millions of unwitting accomplices - by taking advantage of the popularity and special features of Microsoft products. Within a matter of hours, the Love Bug virus spread from Asia to Europe to North America with the help of Microsoft's Outlook Express e-mail program. I'm not blaming Microsoft, but the prevalence of Microsoft's Windows operating system, which appears on more than 85% of personal computers, makes it much easier for virus writers to target a large audience of computer users. The automation features of Outlook Express also makes it an ideal target. So if more computer users had another type of e-mail program such as Netscape or Eudora, the virus would not have automatically sent itself to as many people, thus slowing the spread.

These days you cannot rely on anti-virus software alone to protect your computer. The Love Bug proliferated before virus protection software could be updated, so even those computers supposedly protected with the software were under attack. Even after software updates were available, new versions of the bug appeared, requiring further updates and warnings. By the weekend, viruses were even disguised as warnings about viruses.

So what is the solution to this problem? Do not to open any mysterious e-mail attachments. And yes, arming your computer with regularly updated anti-virus software is still a good idea. Security experts say virus defense must begin before the virus hits the computer. Corporate network administrators could filter suspicious attachments from incoming e-mail before they reach employees. Internet service providers could likewise disinfect e-mail before passing it to home users.

E-mail is not the only source of virus infection. If you're connected to the Internet via cable or ADSL (asymmetric digital subscriber line), your computer may be available to hackers and snoopers 24 hrs a day. Here's how you can protect your home computer running Microsoft Windows 95 or 98

1. Turn off the option that lets others look at your files and use your printer. To do so, click the Windows "start'' button, go to "settings'' and select the "control panel.'' In the control panel window, double-click the "network'' icon. In the network window, click on the "file and print sharing'' button, and uncheck the two checkboxes in the new window.

2. For additional protection, get a "firewall,'' a program that monitors your computer's connection to the Internet. Try ZoneAlarm, which can be downloaded for free from Zone Labs Inc. (www.zonelabs.com). Another option is Symantec Corp.'s Norton Internet Security 2000 (www.symantec.com).

And if you're wondering just how secure your computer is right now, visit Internet security expert Steve Gibson Research's Web site, www.grc.com.