In the March 2000 issue of Marketing Tips, we provided our subscribers with an extensive article on virus protection. (Click here to read "Protecting Yourself Against Major Meltdowns".) While this article gave our subscribers some GREAT information about virus protection, we have just recently discovered a fabulous new technology that we think you will be quite interested in.

It is the next generation of virus protection and it is being referred to as Proactive Anti-Virus Software.

You see, virus scanning software was originally developed to combat viruses passed by floppy disks. Therefore, the software available from such virus experts as McAffee, Symantec, and Dr. Solomon is not really practical for dealing with the faster spreading viruses that are being passed around by e-mail at top speeds.

Remember the "ILOVEYOU" virus disaster? Who could forget?! The world was stunned this past spring as we witnessed the infamous Love Bug do $700 million worth of damage, sweeping the globe in only five short hours.

Regular virus scanning technology is no match for the new generation of viruses that spread by e-mail at lightening speeds. Why? Because your virus scanning software only recognizes KNOWN viruses. This means that if you are not regularly updating your software as you should be... or if the virus is so new that MacAffee or Symantec have not yet had a chance to post an update... your system is vulnerable to whatever new virus is storming the Web.

So while you should definitely still be using virus scanning technology, you should be using it in conjunction with the new generation of virus-protection products that have recently appeared on the market.

What am I talking about? Sandboxing!

This proactive anti-virus technology basically involves enclosing a running application in what is called a "sandbox". The sandbox is responsible for trapping downloaded applications in a controlled environment such as the temporary files folder where it monitors them for malicious code.

This means that before you have a chance to release a potentially harmful virus into your network, the software will lock it away from critical network resources.

For example, let's say that you receive an e-mail from a good friend of yours that contains an attachment titled "I Am Not A Virus". Being a trusting person, you unwittingly open what is actually a nasty virus that has been sending itself out through peoples' address books.

Uh oh! Now what?!

Well, you're in luck! You recently installed some proactive anti-virus software on your system. A wise move on your part. The software immediately traps the malicious code in the safe zone (the sandbox) and refuses to allow it access to addresses in Outlook or Eudora.

Your system is safe!

This software is GREAT because it allows you to trap
malicious code... even previously unknown viruses!

For example, folks who were using this technology did not experience any problems with the ILOVEYOU virus. The virus was enclosed safely in the sandbox because the software recognized it as a potential threat to the system's integrity.

Proactive anti-virus software is still a relatively new technology. However, the following companies offer some great FREE downloads, perfect for the small business owner:

• Computer Associates (www.cai.com) offer Mail Watcher and eTrust Content Inspection Personal Edition for free download. Mail Watcher notifies users if their e-mail software attempts to generate an e-mail on its own. Content Inspection scans e-mail attachments for file types most commonly used by virus writers and monitors executable attachments while they run.

• Finjan Software (www.finjan.com) released a free version of its SurfinGuard software for home users. SurfinGuard runs e-mail attachment programs in a "sandbox" (or safe zone) to see what they do. If they attempt to delete files, open network connections, or perform any unauthorized activity, they will be kept in quarantine.

• Aladdin Knowledge Systems (www.aks.com) offers a free version of its eSafe software for home users. Like Finjan's SufinGuard, eSafe runs attachments in a safe zone to monitor their activity. If they attempt to perform any unauthorized activity, such as delete files, they are kept in quarantine.

Remember though: As I mentioned earlier, Proactive Anti-Virus software is most effective when used in conjunction with Virus Scanning Software. Arm your system well by ensuring that you also have one of the following installed on your system:

• McAffee has a very nice virus section on their site. It includes virus alerts, a useful section explaining what to do when you have been infected by a virus, and regular updates to their anti-virus software for both PCs and Macs. This is the software we rely on to defeat any virus threats. We simply could not survive without it. To check out what McAffee has to offer, go to http://www.mcaffee.com/

• Symantec's AntiVirus Center also has virus alerts and regular updates for both PCs (Norton AntiVirus) and Macs. I do not find their virus section to be as well organized as McAffee's ... but all the information you will need is there! I find their update system to be the most user-friendly that I've seen. Check out http://www.symantec.com/nav/

• You can also take a look at Dr. Solomon's web site and software. They cater to European markets and have software in a variety of languages including French, German, Italian, Spanish and more. To learn more, go to: http://www.drsolomon.com/home/home.cfm

These days, virus protection is not a luxury -- it's a necessity! If you want to be successful online, then you need to be smart about protecting your valuable information. Do it TODAY!