Protecting ourselves against viruses requires a few simple steps. Make sure Windows is showing you the file name extensions (under Tools -> Folder Options -> View in any Windows Explorer window). Never double-click an attachment that ends in one of the extensions that can be executed (.exe or .bat or .scr or .vbs or .pif, among oh, so many others!). You even know that you never click on an attachment that ends in TWO extensions (like doc.scr or .jpg.pif). While the first one looks harmless (well, .doc is NEVER harmless), the second one is actually the one that counts - it will STILL run, and probably contains a virus! But what do you do when the filename contains THREE extensions (.htm.pif.txt or .doc.scr.jpg)?

As it turns out, our old pal Outlook uses the last extension to determine which icon to show for the file (so it looks really harmless), but uses the NEXT-TO-LAST extension to determine which program should run the file! So, even though the last extension is harmless (.jpg in the example .doc.scr.jpg), the next-to-last one (.scr) is the one that counts, and it's likely to be a virus!

Moral: Never, ever, ever open an attachment. Never. Just say no. Uh-uh. No thanks. Nope. Nuh-uh. 'preciate it, but no. Got the picture?

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