The most common way a virus or trojan is transmitted is as an E-Mail attachment. You get an E-Mail from someone you know that contains an attachment, you click on it, it's a virus/trojan, you got it. You have been tricked. Then the virus/trojan goes through your address book, without you knowing, sending itself to your friends and relatives. They get it, they think it's from you, they open the attachment... and the spread continues. Another common way to get a virus is the virus/tojan is already embedded in a program or file you received. You install it, it installs the virus along with the program. Some virus/trojans simply attach itself to every E-Mail you send. Common symtoms of virus/trojan infection is your PC starting to act funny, you're get memory errors, illegal operations, faults, it's getting slower, and things just aren't like you left them are some of the most common signs. Common E-Mail viruses include the IFrame exploit that automatically executes the virus simply by high-lighting the email ( note to self, get the latest upgrade/security patch for my E-Mail program ). E-Mail viruses, like Klez, duplicate themselves in the background while you are online, very noticable because your Internet becomes very slow. If that happens, take a look at the 2 little computers, that indicate you are online, on your task bar. Are they lighting up solid even though your aren't doing anything?

If you think you already are/have been infected with a virus or trojan, DON'T PANIC, don't send any email, don't open any programs you don't absolutely have to, don't reboot, and only get online long enough to get what you need then get off. You can use one of the free Online Virus Scanners or download one of the freeware, shareware or demo antivirus programs. The Commercial program demos are normally full versions that work for a limited time. Plenty long enough to detect and clean your PC. If you intend to keep the program beyond the demo period, you will be required to purchase it. Follow the program's directions and with a little patience and luck, your PC with be cleaned with minimal damage. Sometime Virus cleaners have to delete infected program to get rid of the virus. Some programs, and a worst case, Windows, may need re-installed.

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