VIRUSES!

Yeah yeah yeah, it's 1997, every one thinks that the Amiga isn't bothered
by viruses any more, we're all to clever to get caught out by anything like
that aren't we?  And even if a virus did crop up, Virus X would zap it
automatically, and we'd be in no trouble.

But come one, how many of us have virus checked ALL of our disks, and have
a virus checker running in the background at ALL times?  Very few of us I
bet.  But there isn't really any excuse for this.  

Contrary to what magazines may have you believe, pirated games aren't the
easiest way to catch viruses, most games use their own track loading systems
that wouldn't work if a virus was on the disk.  Most games also by-pass
Amiga DOS which is needed for viruses to infect your disks.  Even reputable
disks can be virus infected.  Any one remember xmas 1992, and the Amiga
User International cover disk?  It was infected with the BSG9 virus.  The
first self-compiled CU Amiga CUCD (2) almost was released with a serious
infection of "Happy new year 1996" virus, the results of which could have
been catastrophic.  So even the pros get caught out at times.

It is worth making sure that you have an up to date virus checker running
on Workbench at all times.  Virus X can be on AFCD (Amiga Format cover CD)
in the -SeriouslyAmiga-/Shareware/Virus/ directory, most issues.  Simply
click in the Install icon and drag Virus X to your WBStartup directory
and it will automatically start itself up each time you boot from your
Amiga's hard disk, and into Workbench.

There are a few extra precautions you can take to avoid virus infection:

1) Remember, all viruses are, are programs.  Like any other program, they
physically cannot write to a write-protected disk, it is impossible.  So
write protect disks when you don't wish to save to them, it's the easiest
way to avoid a virus spreading through your collection and wiping out your
floppy disks.

2) Your hard disk is even more important, so make sure you have Virus X
running, and check your entire hard disk with it (leave it on overnight to
do this, it takes a while), and then keep it running, and it will check
each new disk you insert (don't worry, this takes about 2 seconds for it
to do). 

I've only had two viruses on my Amiga, and I've owned a miggy since 1991,
so I'd say that was pretty good.  I've also managed to catch them both
in time, and never had any data loss because of them, so follow my advice
and you too can be a virus buster just like me!....ahem.

+RIPMAG+