Emails and Attached Viruses

NEVER OPEN EMAIL MESSAGES WITH FILE ATTACHMENTS.
An executable file. NEVER OPEN an attachment with this icon. Viruses are usually spread via *.exe and *.com files (program files), this is the icon that represents program files. High risk of viruses.
This icon is just as dangerous as the *.exe icon above. The icon indicates that the file type is unknown. High risk of viruses.
Always scan a Word document, *.doc, for viruses prior to opening it. Word documents can contain Macro viruses which can be potentially harmful to your system. High risk of viruses.
Excel files can also contain Macro viruses which can be potentially harmful to your system. Always scan a Excel document, *.xls, for viruses prior to opening it. High risk of viruses.
Zip files, *.zip, are compressed files (they can contain Word, Excel, Jpeg, Gif, html, or any other file type including viruses). High risk of viruses.
A forwarded message. The message contains an attached email message, *.eml (usually a joke or information that someone is forwarding to you). The messages typically have Fw: in the subject line (the message was forwarded from someone else). It is possible for the attached email message to contain a virus.

A jpeg or a gif image. (These icons may look different on your system.) In Outlook Express jpeg and gif images are automatically inserted as a part of the body of the message. Beware, some viruses have jpg in the filename to try and fool you into thinking that the virus is just a picture. If the attachment has jpeg in the name, but has a program or unknown icon (above) it is probably a virus.
Someone is sending you a web page link to view. Notice the little arrow on the icon, it indicates a shortcut to a web site and they are usually safe.
This indicates that an entire web page has been included in the email. Notice that this icon does not have the little arrow. Because web pages can contain potentially harmful code be sure you are familiar with the site before you open the attachment. Tip: When you want to share a web site with someone, it is better to forward the link rather than the entire web page. In Internet Explorer click File > Send > Link by E-mail.

Norton Antivirus - Click Start > Programs > Norton Antivirus > Live Update - Norton Antivirus. You do not need to change any settings, click the Next button until you get a pop-up box asking you to click OK, click OK and click Finish. Reboot your machine if prompted to.
McAfee Antivirus - Click Start > Programs > Network Associates > Virus Scan Console. At the Virus Scan Console dialog box right click Auto Update and then click Start.Scheduling virus protection - It's a good idea to schedule the virus protection software to automatically update the "dat" files:
Norton Antivirus - Start > Programs > Norton Antivirus > Norton Antivirus (2001). Click Scheduling > Add Event. The Scheduling Wizard will appear, click Next. Click Schedule LiveUpdate to update your virus protection and click Next. Type Update Virus Scan in the Event Name box and click Next. Select the frequency of the update (I update Daily) and click Next. Set the time of day that you want the update to run (The machine must be turned and connected to the Internet in order for the update to be performed, so try and schedule a time that you know you will be on-line. If the machine is not on at the scheduled time, the update will run as soon as the machine is turned on.) and click Next and click Finish.
McAfee - Start > Programs > Network Associates > VirusScan Console. Right click the AutoUpdate item in the VirusScan Console window and click Properties. Click the Schedule tab. I schedule my virus protection to Run Daily, Start at 16:00 (4:00 p.m.). Schedule your protection to run whenever it's convenient for you. (The machine must be turned and connected to the Internet in order for the update to be performed, so try and schedule a time that you know you will be on-line. If the machine is not on at the scheduled time, the update will run as soon as the machine is turned on.). After deciding your schedule, click OK and Close the VirusScan Console Window.