By Alissa Arford-Leyl
Shop Site of the Month
Edgewood Garage, Inc. - Edgewood, Md.
www.edgewoodgarage.com
This site has creative graphics and is easy to navigate.
Web Wise
Computer Viruses
Computer viruses are programs written to make copies of themselves when the infected program is executed, attaching to and infecting other programs. Although "virus" is the common term used for all malicious programs that harm your computer, it is only one specific classification. The logic bomb is a harmful program that only acts when triggered by a certain event. At a certain time and date, or when you open up a specific application, the infected program will execute with a wide range of consequences. A Trojan program acts as a decoy and appears useful, but it is actually a delivery vehicle for a virus. A worm is a program that reproduces itself over and over again, quickly taking up space. Unlike viruses, worms do not infect other programs.
Your computer can become infected by executing a program with a virus that's been received over a network or from a diskette. Programs that you download from the Web or receive through e-mail must be executed to infect your computer. You cannot receive viruses from reading e-mail or viewing Web pages. If your Web browser or e-mail program automatically opens files attached in e-mail, you should consider turning off this preference so you can examine unsolicited attachments before opening them. Attachments with the extensions ".com" or ".exe" should be paid particular attention to because they are a common hiding place for viruses.
Although the Internet has increased our awareness of viruses, most are spread by infected diskettes. In some cases, software received directly from the distributor has contained a computer virus. One kind of virus that can only be received from an infected diskette is a boot sector virus. Every diskette has invisible boot sector files. When these files are infected, the virus will spread to your computer if the diskette is in the drive when you turn on (boot up) your computer. You will see the normal "disk error" or "non-system disk" message appear but the virus has already infected your computer.
Using anti-virus software to scan diskettes and programs that you have received over a network is the easiest way to keep your computer safe. To detect new viruses, be sure to download the software's latest version from the company's Web site. Virus warnings are regularly spread via e-mail, but the majority of these rumors are myths. Health notices, contests and other bogus e-mail messages are passed on to thousands each day. Visit the Web sites below to learn more about viruses and e-mail hoaxes.
Net Numbers
28.8 Modem: 28.8 kbps
56K Modem: 56 kbps
ISDN Connection: 128 kbps
T1 Connection: 1.5 Mbps
DSL Connection: 1.5 Mbps
Satellite Access: 3.2 Mbps
Cable Modem: 10 Mbps
T3 Connection: 45 Mbps
1 Mbps = 1,000 kbps
kbps: Kilobits per second
Mbps: Megabits per second
ASA Web Ways
Automotive Tips
Are you looking for some automotive maintenance tips for your next shop newsletter or promotion? Each month at the ASA Web site a new Tip of the Month goes online in the Automotive Tips section. Featured ASA tips include: "Finding a Shop You Can Trust," "Understanding Your Brakes," "What To Do In Case Of An Accident," "Taking Good Care Of Your Car," and "Important Items To Carry In Your Car."
The Tip of the Month archive has items dating back to March 1996. When using the tips, be sure to accurately cite the information to the source listed. If no source is identified, attribute the tip to the Automotive Service Association (ASA) Web Site.
Note: Web sites listed in Net Worth do not serve as endorsements of the sites themselves or of any companies or products associated with these sites. In addition, ASA does not verify the factual accuracy and does not necessarily share the opinions expressed by those within these other sites.
Copyright (c) 1996-2008. Automotive Service Association. All rights reserved.
