Feel threatened? I do!

It seems that every time my computer survives a virus attack, another is heading its way. They used to have great names like Melissa or Happy New Year, now it's the w32.nimda.a(at)mm worm, a heinous creature that can give interlopers total access to your system. That alone is enough to make you want to get rid of it.

According to the folks at Symantec Corp., the developers of Norton AntiVirus 2001, this new threat allows a remote user to:

- Steal or change passwords or password files

- Install remote-connectivity host software, also known as backdoors

- Install keystroke logging software

- Configure firewall rules

- Steal credit card numbers, banking information, personal data, etc.

- Delete or modify files

- Send inappropriate or even incriminating material from customer's e-mail account

- Modify access rights on user accounts or files

- Delete information from log files to hide such activities

If you believe your system has been infected or are just paranoid, like I am, you have to reinstall your operating system and restore your programs from a backup made before the worm hit and change any passwords that give users access to the system.

You can also run the removal tool that can be found at http://www.symantec.com/avcenter/venc/data/pf/w32.nimda.a(at)mm.removal.tool.html. It checks your system for the virus and eliminates any files that may have been infected.

It's also a good idea to keep your virus protection software up to date by downloading new virus definitions from the anti-virus software manufacturer's Web site every few weeks or whenever an update notice pops up on your monitor.

If you're not using an anti-virus program run to your nearest computer store and purchase one. Any anti-virus program will give you basic protection, but I prefer either Symantec's Norton Anti-Virus 2001 ($49.95) or McAfee Virus-Scan ($29.95). If you're in a hurry, you can download them from the companies' websites at www.symantec.com and www.mcafee.com.

The folks at McAfee also offer a service where you can scan your system online for two years for $29.95.

Both of these products will monitor everything on your system, including incoming e-mail and attachments and have subscription services that will allow you to download the latest virus definitions.

I've been hit by viruses a few times, so I know these programs work. My system is still up and running because they were able to detect and "quarantine" the invaders before they did any harm.