Although you can obtain a virus through a web site or Internet download, you can also get a virus from any of the Office applications. As you are aware, the most common virus threats come from e-mail attachments. However, you can also run a virus-laden macro or fail to install security patches in Excel or Access.
To stay safe from attachments in Outlook 2007, don’t open files with the following extensions (unless you are positive the file is safe and from a trusted friend or colleague, which may require calling them on the phone to verify what the attachment contains):
· .EXE – EXE files are
executable files. They are used to install programs. It is highly unlikely you’d get an exe file in an email that would not contain a virus.
· COM – COM files contain commands. Commands tell your computer to do something it does not need to be doing. Almost all COM files in e-mail attachments are viruses.
· VBS – These files are Visual Basic scripts. Scripts can modify data on your computer. Unless you work with Visual Basic in a work setting, don’t open these files.
· ZIP – These files are compressed files and are often safe. However, never open a zip file from an unknown sender, or from a message sent from (supposedly) Google or Microsoft.
Macros are another threat. Macros are programs you create (or others create) to perform a series of steps that you perform often. As an example, if you insert your company logo, a graphics file, your company name, address, city, state, phone number, and e-mail address often in the documents you create, you can construct a macro to do it automatically (you can also use a template). Once created, you simply click a user-defined key combination to run it. Macros can be used to create mailing lists or to perform oft-repeated or time consuming tasks, such as copying and pasting data or performing a long series of steps.
For all their good, macros can be created by malicious human beings and sent via e-mail. These macros attach themselves to Microsoft Office programs and act the way viruses generally do. Macros can also replicate themselves using Outlook, thus perpetuating the problem. To stay safe from macros, keep the Office macro security setting at default. [See Image 1]This way, you can run only macros that you’ve agreed to run and/or digitally signed, which means they are valid and harmless.
Some viruses are purposely written to attack a computer through known software security holes. It is consequently tremendously important to protect Vista, XP, and Microsoft Office by installing all security patches and updates. Check your Windows Updates settings to verify you are getting updates as they are published. [See Image 2]