http://www.serviceleader.org/vv/
The nature of online volunteering means a lot of contact between computers -- emails, attachments, transfers of files, etc. Because of this interaction, volunteers and organizations can be at risk for transmitting computer viruses between each other.
Most computer viruses are merely annoying -- the most common reported by VV Project volunteers are those that alter Microsoft Word macro functions, and those that attach meaningless files to emails. But there are a few that can lead to system crashes and other serious problems, such as the "Melissa" virus of April 1999, which launched emails with a virus attached to everyone in a user's address book without the user knowing about it.
Often, nonprofit and public sector organizations don't have a lot of understanding about computer viruses -- they don't know how to distinguish between real virus warnings and the many "hoax" warnings that permeate the Internet, or they don't know how to tell when a computer is infected by a virus, let alone how to clean it.
When you work with an agency online, be sure to ask them what kind of virus software they have and if they update it regularly; also tell them what kind of virus software you use and make sure that you, too, upgrade it regularly (most manufacturers post free updates on their web sites at least every quarter). One of your online tasks could be to let the organization know when an upgrade for their particular virus software is available, and how to download it and install it on their various computers.
VV Project volunteers have provided the following index of links to sites to educate you about computer viruses, and to help you prevent computer viruses from infecting your computer and from being passed on from your computer to someone else.
Index of Anti-Virus Resources
McAfee.com
http://www.mcafee.com
Includes a clinic section with information to protect your system from any virus, new or
old. Also includes downloads and upgrades for McAfee products.
Symanyec's United States Homepage
http://www.norton.com/us.index.html
Offers information on the latest viruses and advertises Symanyec's Norton AntiVirus software.
Anti-Virus Resources
http://vscl.org.au/antivirus.htm
By Victorian Society for Computers and the Law Inc. "Like an information booth for computer viruses." It includes many links to other websites as well.
Virus Bulletin Homepage
http://www.virusbtn.com/
Highlights the latest information on computer viruses, and includes a Virus Prevalence Table telling you which viruses are currently being reported.
CIAC Virus Database
http://ciac.llnl.gov/ciac/CIACVirusDatabase.html
CIAC (Computer Incident Advisory Capability) gathers information about computer viruses, and provides links to other anti-virus sites like itself. It includes useful sections on hoaxes, viruses and tools.
AGN's Page for the Internet
http://agn-www.informatik.uni-hamburg.de/vtc/naveng.htm
Includes a lot of information on viruses. It is divided into many helpful sections: Virus Warning, Anti-Virus Scanner-Test, Macro-Viruses, Amiga Group, Machintosh Group and PC Group.
Virus Research Unit
http://www.uta.fi/laitokset/virus/
Concentrates on computer antivirus research, including analysis of antivirus products
and development of tools for computer antivirus research.
Vet Web Site
http://www.cybec.com.au/
By Computer Associates Pty Ltd, this site includes latest information of the new viruses. It
also includes information on many Anti-Virus sofware packages.
Dr. Solomon's On-Line
http://vscl.org.au/antivirus.htm
By Network Association Company, this site includes virus alerts, news, research, primers and descriptions in it Virus Central, and a page that helps you determine if your computer has a virus or not. It also includes a section that gives you a review of award-winning anti-virus products.
AVP Virus Encyclopedia
http://www.metro.ch/avpve/
By Metropolitan Network BBS Inc., this site has a general information section that includes a
a glossary, classification of computer viruses, and computer virus detection and removal methods. It gives quick links to AVP products and downloads.
Free Anti-Virus Software
http://www.thefreesite.com/antivirus.htm
An index of free anti-virus software compiled by thefreesite.com
Back to the Homepage of this Handbook
| The Virtual Volunteering Project http://www.serviceleader.org/vv/ |
|
If you find this or any other Virtual Volunteering Project information helpful, or would like to add information based on your own experience, please contact us.