A computer virus you get from an e-mail message might eat all your files, including client records. And you might end up being obligated to inform dozens of people that you inadvertently forwarded the virus to them.

If this sounds analogous to having unprotected sex with multiple partners, you’re right. So be safe! Here’s how to protect yourself.

First, if you are already running an active virus protection software such as Norton or McAfee, AND you either manually update it every several days or you’re instructed your Windows “Scheduled Tasks” to automatically update your virus protection software every few days, go take a break. You are virtually bulletproof to most viruses.

If you are not included in this select group, stop reading now. Immediately either download and install virus protection software or run to the computer store and buy protection there. If you don’t, I assure you that you will get a virus. Period.

You can pay for and download anti-virus software on the web and the industry leaders are Norton and Mcafee. Most all major computer and office supply chains carry anti-virus software, too.

Follow the directions and get protected.

You’ve likely already gotten, and perhaps forwarded on, one of those forwarded-a-thousand-times virus alert letters, much like a chain letter. Well, stop it. About 99.99% of those alerts are bogus. In fact, the virus protection software firms have web pages that specifically cite the virus hoax du jour. See the hoax list at both Norton and McAfee.

You can even see what hoax chain letters are currently being circulated courtesy of the Computer Industry Advisory Capability web site, provided by the U.S. Dept of Energy. And learn, there, what to do if you get one.

Here’s what I do when I get from someone a hoax alert chain letter. I send them the following and you may want to copy and save this letter to modify and use yourself:

Dear Sender of Virus Alert Chain Letter:

You recently forwarded a chain letter warning of a virus. However, unless a virus warning is from a company/site that specializes in viruses, it is almost invariably a hoax. A common sign of a hoax in a warning is the phrase "FORWARD IT TO ALL YOUR ON-LINE FRIENDS A.S.A.P.!"

You can, however, see if the virus is real or a hoax at one of these two sites: Norton AntiVirus or at McAffee AntiVirus.

I just looked and the put the name of the hoax virus here virus is another hoax. So don’t worry about it. And it might be good to bookmark the above two sites so you can check the validity of future “virus warnings” you receive.

Hope this sets you at ease about this supposed virus. But not knowing beforehand that it was merely a hoax, it was very thoughtful of you to warn me. Hope my note helps save you time by your not forwarding virus alert chain letters and thanks, nonetheless, for your thoughtful concern.

(Name)

Now I love educating people on Internet stuff, so when I respond to the sender with my letter above, I do not just hit "Reply," I hit "Reply to all" so that my letter gets sent to the entire chain of people shown on the much-forwarded e-mail.

How you configure your anti-virus program is important, too. I have mine set so that it checks many things, including each file that I download and each e-mail attachment that I open. Recently I received an “.exe” e-mail attachment (similar to a virus) and my anti-virus software immediately detected that it was a “worm”, identified it, and threw up a warning window onto the screen. I simply quarantined the worm and rendered it harmless before any damage was done.

If you get and send numerous messages a day, you need to update your anti-virus software daily. How do you do that? If, you have an Anti-Virus program that allows for online updates, you can command one anytime by using the following string: Start>Programs>Accessories>System Tools>Scheduled Tasks.

In “Scheduled Tasks” (Windows 95-98) you should see a line called “Run Live Update For Norton AntiVirus.” Be online, then click on this choice to download and install the latest Anti-Virus protection. (Note that if you use McAfee AntiVirus software, or others, instead of Norton, you will have a line saying something similar.)

If you want to simply run a Virus Scan of your computer, look in the same “Scheduled Tasks” menu for “Scan for Viruses” alongside a little icon of a clock. Click on that line to perform an immediate scan. But remember---unless you keep your anti-virus software updated, it can miss the “new and improved” virus de jour. So please, download updates either manually every few days or have Windows do it automatically for you in “Scheduled Tasks.”

Yes, Virginia, in case you hadn’t caught on, using the Internet without virus protection is almost exactly like having relations with multiple ................well, you get the point.