Answer:        A "computer virus" is a group of computer code, called a "program" that

                        enters your computer, usually through E-mail attachments or Internet Messaging

                        programs (example: AIM -AOL Instant Messaging, Yahoo Instant Messaging),  

                        and is designed to copy itself into other programs stored in your computer.

                        Different viruses are designed to do different things, such as causing your

                        programs to operate incorrectly, or corrupting your computers memory or

                        operating system (Windows). Computer viruses can also enter your

                        computer through viewing a page on the World Wide Web, or from a floppy

                        disk or CD-ROM that has been previously corrupted by the virus.

                        Viruses can be bad, very bad, and you MUST protect your computer

                        against them.

Answer:        You MUST install a program called a "Virus Scanner" in your computer.

                        This program will be running in the background while your computer is

                        turned on, and will identify a virus as it enters your computer and disable

                        it so it cannot do the harm it was written to do. Think of it as a highly trained

                        professional woman and man standing at the entrance to your computer,

                        each holding a machine gun. If a virus tries to sneak in, they kill it. BAM!

Question:     Where can I get a Virus Scanner program?

Answer:       First, here are the  3 critical items we need to do to keep viruses out

                       of our computers:

                                        1. Install a Virus Scanner program.

                                        2. Update the Virus Scanner program regularly (once a day).

                                        3. Run the Virus Scanner program regularly (once a week).

                       We strongly advise the use of a very good virus program named Avast!

                       Avast can be downloaded from THIS SITE. The cost of this product

                       is FREE. We do not recommend Norton, McAfee, or any of the "pay" virus

                       scanners as we believe that Avast is better and does not require payment.

                       Also it is not part of a suite of programs that could slow down and corrupt  

                       your Computer. Avast updates automatically when you are connected to the 

                       Internet. Usually they issue one update or more per day.

                       You should have only one Virus Scanner installed on your computer. Check your

                       programs and if you have an old Virus Scanner installed (possibly that came with

                       your computer, but has never been updated) go to the Control Panel

                       (for Win 9x click "Start", "Settings", "Control Panel" -  for WinXP click "Start",

                       "Control Panel") and click "Add/Remove Programs". Scroll thru the list of

                       programs and select your old Virus Scanner and highlight it by clicking on it.

                       Then click the button "Add/Remove". After the program has been uninstalled,

                       restart your computer.

                        Now we are ready to download, install, and update the Virus Scanner

                        program. Be sure you are logged on the Internet, then click on the "Avast"

                        link above and download "Avast 4.6 - Home Edition - English". 

                        Make sure to select the "desktop" as the destination for the download to your

                        computer. When the file has finished downloading, then close your web browser,

                       and "double click" on the downloaded icon on your desktop. Now the Avast

                       Anti-Virus program will begin to install. When the program has installed,

                       restart your computer.

                        Avast needs to be registered in 60 days or it will stop working. The registration

                        is Free! The information for Registration, Configuration and Performing the

                        Virus Scan is so often requested, we have elected to place it on the first page

                        of our web site. You can access it at www.computerpals.com, then

                        scrolling half way down the page and clicking on the following link:

                        "Avast Anti-Virus".                            

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