By Dave Moore

TEAM VPP administrator, China Lake

Personal computer viruses – What is a computer virus? How does a computer get a virus? What are Macro viruses and do they really affect my system? What are Chain Letter Hoaxes?

These are the questions we ask ourselves when confronted with the issue of using virus protection. In the past, many of us wouldn’t believe that computer viruses existed, let alone accept that one could infect our computer.

With this reasoning, virus protection was the last thing we wanted to think about. For most people, recognizing the importance of virus protection often requires an actual viral attack on a computer we use regularly. It is then, and pretty much only then, that we take the time to seriously look at using virus protection on our own computers.

The rate at which new computer viruses are being created is increasing dramatically. Therefore, the chances of a computer coming in contact with, or becoming infected by, a computer virus is more likely. With this in mind, we can’t put off protecting our computing resources anymore! Once your computer becomes infected with a virus, the integrity of your data has been compromised. Can you afford to take chances with your data? Do you back up your data on a regular basis to protect it?

The TEAM Virus Protection Program (VPP) Office was established by NAVAIR in order to promote policy, procedures and employee awareness of the threat posed by computer viruses. This is accomplished by establishing a reporting mechanism to ensure that all appropriate personnel are notified in the event of a computer virus incident and to define responsibilities to reduce the threat and cost of computer viruses to Information Assurance resources. The TEAM VPP Office has established a Web site, available to all commands within the NAVAIR community, at https://teamvpp.navair.navy.mil.

This Web site is intended to help users with their everyday needs relating to e-mail hoaxes and computer viruses, and includes a multitude of virus-related information. There are also several e-mail lists that users can join in order to stay on top of the increasing virus threat, to receive updates on e-mail hoaxes or Virus, Network and Security Alerts. To join a mail list, just go to the Web site listed above, then click on the EUpdates button at the bottom of the page.

During the recent LoveLetter virus, the NAVAIR TEAM Virus Web site sustained more than 470,000 hits from various users during a three-day period. Hits originated from the Department of Navy CIO Office, DISA, and NAVAIR TEAM sites. The TEAM Virus web site served as a critical point of information on the LoveLetter virus and continued to update users regarding other viruses, hoaxes and general virus information. This Web server as been configured to withstand approximately one million hits per day.

Virus hoaxes continue to be alive and well. Users who receive virus hoax warnings or any other virus related information originating from anywhere other than the TEAM Virus Protection Program (VPP) Office should go to the TEAM virus Web server to see if the particular hoax is listed. If not, then forward a copy to the TEAM VPP administrator @ [email protected] for action.