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1/2/12

Fight off that computer virus - by Eric Gwinn

0This time of year, you hear plenty warnings about email scams and phishing attacks. You know not to reply to an email with your Social Security number, and you don't open email attachments from strangers. You've learned to keep your firewall software turned on, and you've figured out other ways to keep malware out of your computer.

It can happen to even the most savvy surfers. Malware makers have determined how to bamboozle web browsers and lay land mines on innocent-looking web sites, and occasionally these tricks can figuratively blow up your computer and make your life a mess.

If your computer isn't inexplicably slow, if programs don't launch unexpectedly or if you don't have other signs of a virus, now's the time to protect your computer. Check out "Review the Rules" below. If your machine is acting kind of off, it's not a guarantee you have a virus. Take these steps — adapted from recommendations by the United States Computer Emergency Readiness Team, part of the Department of Homeland Security.

PC users can use Microsoft's security scanner (microsoft.com/security/scanner ) to find and remove malware.

For more: Gadget Q&A: Fight off that computer virus - Chicago Tribune

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