Safe Computing

The recent rash of computerworms and viruses, like Blasterand SoBig.F, which left chaos in theirwake, have highlighted the need forbetter software design. Microsoft(www.microsoft.com), which createsand markets the vast majority of thesoftware used on personal computers,is the usual target of computerhackers who develop nasty, destructivecomputer programs that canbring networks to their knees. Untilthe software programmers get theiract together, however, it's best totake preventive action. If you don'thave anti-virus software, get it; if youdo have it, make sure you update itfrequently from the company's Website. For an older computer, you mayhave to pay a nominal subscriptionfee to do this, but it's worth it. Note:For about $15 a year, you can havethe antivirus software updatedautomatically whenever new versionsare released.