William Scarbrough

Power Point

10/14/1998

I now have a computer! All of my problems are solved. Or are they? There are many problems that strictly deal with computers. We will look at 3 of those problems. Computer viruses, computer crime and Internet related problems.

Computer Viruses

Of all the things in this world, which could harm us, only one of them is a bunch of characters. Those characters make up a computer program known as a virus. What is a computer virus? It is defined as "any program that reproduces itself by using the resources of your computer without your knowledge or consent".

You may ask yourself how common are computer viruses? The answer is we do not know. "There are about 6,500 known viruses and new ones are reported every month".¹

Computer Viruses come in three different varieties. Harmless viruses, such as the "Lennon virus locked up systems while displaying the message ‘All we are saying is give peace a chance’, but did no serious damage."

The second varieties of viruses are the unintentionally harmful. "For example, Stoned, a common virus, doesn’t seem to have been intended to have ill effects".¹ Even though they may not intend to hurt your computer they con overload your memory, freeze your computer, and or fill up your hard drive.

The third varieties of viruses are the intentionally harmful. These viruses have only one purpose, to destroy your hard drive. One day you may turn on your computer and see a message similar to this one "Your data was delicious," If you end up getting one of these viruses, you might end up losing all of your data.

Despite all of the viruses out there, there are ways to prevent your computer from getting sick.

¨ "Use and update anti-virus software regularly, Scan newly received disks and files for viruses, including newly bought shrink-wrapped diskettes.

¨ To avoid boot virus infection, don’t leave floppy disks in your computer. Have a backup.

¨ Keep the antiviral software activated. When downloading files from the Internet, download to a disk--not your hard drive. Scan the disk before any files are put into your systems."

Preventing viruses is getting easier and cheaper everyday. You can get good antibody programs for $65.00 For more information on computer viruses you can go down to the library and look up all sorts of information on computer viruses.

Computer Crime

Crime today is on the rampage. Many people suffer threats to their life, liberty and their prosperity. Most people do not see another threat to their lives, computer crimes. Computer crimes are fast becoming one of the most damaging crimes in the United States. Computer crime is also on of the easiest crimes to commit. Also, computer crime is on to the most profitable to commit. "One estimate puts it at 8 billion dollars per year nationally. Software piracy and component theft alone are estimated to cost more then 24 billion dollars worldwide."

Overstated claims of product effectiveness such as ‘cures of improves 27 different conditions.’

Use of hype in titles and repetition of the word "hot" to describe an investment.

Claims of inside information. Such information is usually false and, if true, trading on it is usually risky.

Not only are crimes committed for commercial gain, some crimes are committed "against commercialization of the Internet. The Internet Liberation Front has claimed responsibility for all kinds of mischief, The acts include so-called bombing of E-mail accounts, bombarding them with so many messages that they shut down. The Front also claims responsibility for breaking into IBM and Sprint computers." So as you can see from the information that I have presented all sorts of crime are committed in cyberspace.

Highway or Rural Road

When you go to boot up your computer and then go to the Internet, how do you view it? Is it the Information Superhighway or is it the information rural road? How you should view the Internet depends on three things: Technology, content and taste. Without the technology for your computer to run the Internet, all you have is a box that can type a letter or play a game. Software for the Internet is necessary. Without a browser, you are as helpless as roadkill. You would have to learn hundreds and thousands of codes and commands just to be able to get to a webpage, let alone to view it. A good viewer is needed. The two most popular browsers are Netscape Commicator and Internet Explorer 4.0 by Microsoft. Either one of these browsers will deliver excellent webpages. What good is a browser, though, without something to send information to and from? Modems or direct network connections are essential. Most networks use an ISPN phone line for Internet hook up. It allows the data to travel as fast as the network can handle. Problems with speed can occur when large numbers of people on the network surf the Internet at the same time. For the average user a 33.6 KB modem should be sufficient. Speed is often the keyword for users. There is nothing more annoying or boring then sitting waiting for information to come off the Internet. One of the last things that you want is an extremely slow Internet connection.

When you are traveling in a car on the highway, the destination is often the purpose of the trip. You do not want to stop because you are afraid that you will end up in a tourist trap. That is often true of the Internet. Context is a major portion of the Internet. Webpage designers should be artists, blending just the right amount of information, pictures, and sound to make a Webpage informative and pleasurable. Some Internet sites often just contain a few pictures and the E-mail address of the person that made it.

Not everyone has the same tastes. Some people like Interstate while others enjoy scenic rural roads. Like the highway or the rural roads, the Internet provides something for everyone. Since the Internet attracts so many different people to it, there are going to be different areas of interest. You can find just about anything that you can think of on the Internet, from art to Star Trek. Of course, with that kind of coverage, there are a few problems that arise. Hate groups use this forum to promote their sickening views. Disinformation is also a major problem people have to face on the Internet. Attempted altering of world events is one such type of disinformation. Such sites promote ideas such as that the Holocaust never happened. It is sites like these that give the Internet a bad reputation.