Is it possible to get a virus by opening PPS or DOC files?

  • Thread starter Thread starter Anthony
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A

Anthony

Is it possible to get a virus by opening PPS or DOC files? If so, am I
protected by using Norton Antivirus?

thanks
 
Is it possible to get a virus by opening PPS or DOC files? If so, am I
protected by using Norton Antivirus?
Click to expand...

Yes, since some malicious files "appear" to be a doc or pps file and are
really exe/com/pif,etc...

Most common MS Office malware are Macro Viruses.

In general, any AV software running in active mode (like Norton) will
detect a Macro Virus and some have special MS Office detection methods
(like Norton) if they are kept current and not running old virus
definitions.

A log time ago I saw a "Wazzo" macro virus spread through 13 offices
around the country due to shared MS Office documents, funny thing was it
didn't hit our department because we didn't follow corporate security
standards, our were tighter.... It took them almost a week to clean up
the mess.
 
Anthony said:
Is it possible to get a virus by opening PPS or DOC files?
Yes.

If so, am I protected by using Norton Antivirus?
Click to expand...

Probably (as long as you keep the virus definitions updated regularly - see
live update - you should be ok)

It's also worth installing a firewall such as the one provided in WinXP or
ZoneAlarm if you don't have a firewall in your router.
 
doc - yes, not sure what the other on is...


CWatters said:
Probably (as long as you keep the virus definitions updated regularly - see
live update - you should be ok)

It's also worth installing a firewall such as the one provided in WinXP or
ZoneAlarm if you don't have a firewall in your router.
Click to expand...
 
Anthony said:
Is it possible to get a virus by opening PPS or DOC files?
Click to expand...


Yes. You can get a macro virus from these. Also note that files are not
always in the format their extension indicates.

If so, am I
protected by using Norton Antivirus?
Click to expand...


*Any* anti-virus program, if you keep it up-to-date, substantially reduces
the risk of getting a virus. *No* anti-virus program can completely protect
you.

Realize what the anti-virus people do. When a new virus comes out, they
become aware of it, update their virus signatures to detect it, then release
those updated signatures to you. There is then perhaps a further delay until
you do the update. How long does that process take? A week? A couple of
days? A single day?

Obviously the better anti-virus programs will have a shorter response time,
but the very nature of the process is such that there is always *some* lag
time between the introduction of a new virus, and your anti-virus signatures
being updated. During that time, you are vulnerable to that new virus.
*Somebody* (or somebodies) always gets infected during that time; that's how
the anti-virus people become aware of the new virus.

So an anti-virus program can provide a great deal of protection, but it can
*never* be perfect. That's why you always need to be careful what files you
open. I never open executable attachments (and because doc and pps files can
contain macros, there are effectively executable) at all, except from a
*very* few trusted sources, and then only when I'm expecting them.
 
yes, there are various ways to get viruses by opening
files, going to the internet, opening your personal files,
logging on & logging off your computer checking viruses
within viruses. there are lots of definitions for viruses.

file virus--a virus that inserts virus codes into an
executable program & can spread wheneverthat program is accessed. I have
found that Norton Anti- Virus will only
scan the programs & files that come with your computer,
NOT from the internet.
 
phillip said:
I
have found that Norton Anti- Virus will only
scan the programs & files that come with your computer,
NOT from the internet.
Click to expand...


More nonsense. Of course Norton Anti-virus scans files that come form the
inyternet, or from any other source.
 
I have
found that Norton Anti- Virus will only
scan the programs & files that come with your computer,
NOT from the internet.
Click to expand...

That's funny - Norton AV will, by default, scan files accessed from any
location. NAV scans memory and files on access by default.
 
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