Protecting Your Computer During Electrical Storms; Taking Precautions Against Computer Viruses - @Xi Computer Corporation Mtower User Manual

Protecting Your Computer During Electrical Storms

Taking Precautions Against Computer Viruses

If an electrical storm occurs in your area, take the following precautions to
safeguard your computer after you have closed all applications and powered-down
the system:
• Unplug your computer's system and all peripherals that from the AC outlets,
even if you are using a surge protector or UPS. While these protective devices
can guard against AC fluctuations, they do not protect your computer from
lightning strikes.
• Unplug your modem from the telephone wall jack. Telephone lines are subject
to electrical overloads from lightning strikes. A lightning strike can travel
along a telephone line and attack your computer through a modem connected
to a telephone wall jack. Lightning can damage the modem, your computer,
and all peripherals connected to it.
After the storm passes, reconnect your computer and peripherals to AC power
sources and reconnect your modem to the telephone wall jack.
A computer virus consists of software that enters your computer and runs without
your knowledge. As the term virus implies, this type of software causes unwanted
activities to occur in your computer. Computer viruses can range from the
relatively simple to the complex:
• The most common type of simple computer virus replicates (copies) itself over
and over again in your computer's hard drive. This type of virus is harmful
because it can quickly consume all available memory and storage resources
and bring your computer to a halt.
• Complex viruses are capable of transmitting themselves across networks and
bypassing security systems. They not only use up computer resources and can
also damage files, applications, and hardware elements.
There are a number of commercial antivirus software programs available that you
can install on your computer to protect against such invasions. These programs
periodically check your computer to make sure it has not become infected by
viruses. We recommend that you purchase an antivirus software program, install it
on your system, and update it regularly to protect your computer against new
viruses.
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