Hi, This old lady needs some advice. Been getting bad, bad E mails. The last two weeks, Can I get a virus, if I accidentally open one. Do I have a virus stopper on this computor, Its a compuServe 2000, MultiSync FE700, There is a button on botton a M in a round red circle. that says McAfee Active Shield. Is this a virus stopper? If not what do I get? Can stop at circuit city today. Leaveing in hour, Help quick.God Bless Irene

-- Irene texas (tkorsborn@cs.com), March 13, 2002

Answers

Your computer should have come with at least a couple of free months of virus protection .Click on the anti virus software,it should tell you if it is active or not .Some need to be updated by you some do it all alone .If all ulse fails call the 800 # or where you got it .

-- Patty {NY State} (fodfarms@hotmail.com), March 13, 2002.

I can"t find the anti virus software, where is it> I really know nothing, Is that on screen when I go off internet somewhere, Under programs or something else. I am only into this computor for a year. and my brain is not digesting all of this. And really no one to help out here in boon docks.

-- Irene texas (tkorsborn@cs.com), March 13, 2002.

P/s, Please tell me what happens if I open by accident, or my husband opens something strange on E mail? Can there be a virus attached? Can you know before you open your mail. Answer quickly, I will be leaveing in a hour. Do I buy software disk for this computor, I read Lesley has a norton virus something or other.What is it. help

-- Irene texas (tkorsborn@cs.com), March 13, 2002.

When you are starting up the puter and are at the page with the logos, there should be a logo for Norton or McAfees (sp), click on that logo, it should open with instructions to run a live update which you need to do at least once a week. just click it to on, it will run its self, and tell you when its done updateing.

-- mitch hearn (moopups@citlink.net), March 13, 2002.

You cannot get a virus from reading email. As long as there's no attachment with it that you download and execute, you are safe.

-- Dave (multiplierx9@hotmail.com), March 13, 2002.

Try right clicking on that "M with the circle". If it says open, do that and see if you can find out something from that. Click "Start", and look under "programs" "Accessability", "System Tools", etc to see if you can find either McAfee or Norton. If Norton is activated and updated, it should be scanning your email as it arrives but if that's happening, there would be a little blue and yellow letter in your task bar showing that was happening. Ask at the place where you bought this computer. It's confusing, even when you think you know what you're doing. Just keep asking questions until someone tells you what you need to know.

-- Rosalie (Dee) in IN (someone@heavenbound.com), March 13, 2002.

A virus checker is worth nothing if your not upgrading the virus defintion list.

Also for dave, Yes you can get a virus from email without attachments. Now granted you have to be running outlook to get it but you can.

A side note. If your using outlook for email then most of your viurs problems with go away if you change to a different email program.

-- Gary in Ohio (gws@columbus.rr.com), March 13, 2002.