One Additional Defense Against Email Viruses

Submitted by HelpMeRick.com on December 30, 2005 - 11:50pm.

This simple tip should not be a substitute for anti-virus programs and keeping them updated, but can be an affective adjunct to anti-virus programs.

As always, remember that viruses can come from friends and family. Although not on purpose, if a friend or family email buddy received a virus unknowingly, they will propagate the virus unknowingly as well.

Because we have a tendency to look at email attachments, institute this easy method of intercepting some of the most virulent of viruses...the Visual Basic Script virus or worm (VBS). Follow these steps carefully and verbatim:

1. Click on Start --> Programs --> Accessories --> Notepad
2. Type: Visual Basic Script test document
3. Click on File and Save
4. In the file name box type: vbstestdoc.vbs
5. Remember where you are saving this file by looking in the 'look in' box at the top and then click Save
6. Close Notepad
7. Go to where you saved the file in step 5
8. Hold down the Shift key on your keyboard as you RIGHT Click on the vbstestdoc.vbs file
9. Click on Open With from the menu
10. Scroll through the list and click once on Notepad
11. Make sure the box that says "always use this program IS checked and then click OK

This routine will force any scripts that you accidentally download or click on to open harmlessly in Notepad.

Then you will want to delete the culprit if it indeed is a VBS script file.

If this helped, consider buying me a beer or an Americano!