**This is not directed at you.** I'm just ranting.
This is an over-hyped worm that has driven me absolutely insane due to the number of questions about it I've had to field at work. Everything from the damage caused by people accidentally emptying their trash bins to failed CPU fans to pouring beer on the keyboard has been blamed on "that nasty new virus" or just a virus or spyware generally. Of course it takes forever to get these people to admit that, yes, they did unplug the video card while the power was on so that the actual issue can be diagnosed. It's all the virus. That's what the media keeps telling them. It can't be your fault; it's the evil hackers.
A not-so-small cottage industry has developed in the last several years based on "protecting" you from stuff that *they* tell you requires their protection. Sounds like the base plot line for a gangster movie, actually.
I do not say this to criticize anyone or to downplay too much the effect a virus, worm, or trojan can have on you or your system. They are real, and it is a real threat. People should run virus scanners. They should run well-configured firewalls. They should regularly check for spyware. But, before bothering with any of that, people should learn about what the threat actually is, how it is transmitted, and what you can do to prevent infection regardless of how much money you spend on protection. I've had a computer in my home for 22 years now. I have never, not once, had a computer damaged by a virus or infected with a trojan or worm. And, I didn't even run a virus scanner on a regular basis until about five years ago. I have also never spent a dime on a virus scanner. The free versions work at their base functionality just as well as and in some cases better than their costly counterparts, and with a little awareness of how your system is used, how it works, and what causes these nasties to come knocking down your CPU, you too can live without fear.
Anyway ... rant over. I'll just end with this.
http://news.zdnet.com/2100-1009_22-6034706.htmlThe Kama Sutra worm, designed to begin deleting files on infected computers this morning, has caused virtually no damage, according to antivirus firms.The "anti-virus firms," in particular the ones that charge you a monthly fee, want you to believe they are to thank for this. George Bush also wants you to believe he is to thank for the fact no skyscrapers have been blown up since 9/11. The tactics being used here are not far apart.
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