] Dubbed "LoveSAN" or "MSBlaster," the worm does not use
] e-mail to send itself. Rather it is considered
] self-propagating, meaning that it independently searches
] for unprotected computers to infect.

Many of my friends are highly tech-literate, and love to slice and dice all kinds of bits and bytes with glee. Many others, however, see computers only as occasional tools, and *not* as a lifestyle. So to tell them, "Patch your computer" is going to get as bewildered a look as if an auto mechanic came to me and said, "What do you mean you don't personally adjust your spark plug timing on a monthly basis?"

So for those of my circle who are reading this, who are not "uber-geek" tech-literate: As you're hearing on the news, there is a *nasty* virus going around the web. You don't need to download something to get it, you don't need to open an email to get it. Just being connected to the internet, especially if from a computer that is running Windows 2000 or Windows XP, could potentially mean that your system has gotten infected (Macintosh users are immune from this one).

I won't go into a lot of the, "Do this, do that, and if this doesn't work, do that" descriptions to fix things. The simplest fix is: Make sure your Windows software is updated. To do this, the easiest way (assuming that you are using an Internet Explorer browser) is to go up to the "Tools" menu on your browser, and look for an option called "Windows Update". Select that. It should automatically connect to the Microsoft website, scan your computer to see what updates it needs, and suggest downloads. Do what it tells you. Do it now. ESPECIALLY do it by Friday, because this weekend is when things are going to get nastier.

If you get stuck, call me or IM me (AOL Instant Messenger: Elonka) or write me (elonka@aol.com). I'll talk ya through. :)

Good luck!

Windows computers at serious risk from Internet 'Blaster' worm