By Randall Hull

Tech Talk

This biweekly column offers solutions to personal technology problems submitted by readers. Neither the author nor this newspaper endorses products or companies mentioned.

Q: Our company network was recently crippled by a virus called Nimda. It caused quite a mess. I have a Windows PC and a Mac at home where I take work from the office as well as surf the Net. What can I do to keep from being infected at home?

A: The recent proliferation of viruses proves any nut with a modicum of computer programming and a modem can inflict damage and loss on the world of connected users. My opinion of these people is unprintable.

Viruses and worms can trash files, use available memory, slow your computer and shut down your network. Some variants capture confidential information such as credit card numbers, exposing them to others.

The Nimda virus - W32/Nimda@MM - is an Internet worm that infects unprotected users of Win9x/NT/2000/ME. It uses mass-mailing, network share propagation, the Microsoft Web Folder Transversal and Microsoft incorrect MIME Header vulnerabilities to infect PCs. An infected system is used to find others over the Internet. This causes a lot of port scanning and can jam network traffic. Microsoft is offering a patch for Windows and Internet Explorer (version 5.01 or 5.5 without SP2). Visit www.microsoft.com/technet/ for details.

As if this weren’t enough, a new e-mail with a viral attachment named “Anti_TeRRoRisM.exe” is trying to capitalize on the Sept. 11 tragedy. The e-mail will look something like this:

Subject: Fwd: This War Must Be Done!

Body:

Hi

We Must Fight, We Must ReMemBer Our Victims!

No Peace Before KiLLing TeRRoRists !

Attachment: Anti_TeRRoRisM.exe

Should you receive this e-mail or a similar version, don’t open it. Delete it immediately.

Most viruses are Windows specific and won’t infect a Macintosh. But a Mac can forward a PC virus and spread infection. There are, however, viruses wholly devoted to the Mac, so don’t think you’re off the hook.

For your home computers, purchase a good virus detection program such as Symantec Norton AntiVirus or McAfee VirusScan. Then follow these simple rules to protect yourself:

Rule One: If you receive an e-mail and/or attachment ending with .exe and you don’t recognize it, don’t open it! Delete it.

Rule Two: Don’t accept disks from strangers. Disks containing certain files and programs can spread viruses. If you don’t know whether a virus detection program has scanned the disk, don’t put it into your computer. Make sure your co-workers, your children and anyone you may get disks from are not adding to the problem.

Please keep questions to 100 words or less. Send to: Tech Talk, Town Crier, 138 Main St., Los Altos 94022 or e-mail techtalk@latc.com.

Randall Hull is a Los Altos resident and owner of The Br@nd Ranch, an advertising and marketing agency.