1. Viruses for brownies Brownies Meet... viruses

2. So, what are viruses? Trouble makers. They will ruin your computer. They usually arrive to you by email, but can also attack you by pictures and websites that you copy or use on the internet.They are programmes written by nasty people, who really have nothing better to do! They can: * Crash your computer * Track what you’ve been doing *Make your computer behave oddly, uncontrollably Some of you brownies may own email accounts and viruses are not something for you to get very worried about, but they are something to be aware of...

3. What are the different types of virus? How can you stop yourself from getting a virus? Are there any drawbacks to using anti-virus software? There are plenty different types of virus: I love you- This virus has the ability to replicate itself when it is opened via email. It will send itself to all of your contacts and hide in yours and other peoples files. You don’t have to be scared of them, but it helps to be aware Melissa- The Melissa virus was developed over 10 years ago, and there is no need to worry about this one because the creator was jailed and fined. This virus sent itself to your top 50 people when opened. You were infected as soon as you opened it. If you receive an unexpected email, from an unknown sender, DO NOT OPEN! DELETE STRAIGHT AWAY! With most emails, if you open them, you get infected straight away! Also, when you do homework and research for homework or brownie tasks it’s probably best to use books since some websites can give you viruses. Using well- known websites like Wikipedia and Wikianswers are safer than exploring unknown, undetailed sites. Again, don’t be scared, just aware. There are some anti- virus softwares that work, but others don’t. They can slow down your computer as well as delete folders ad files.

5. This picture may be a joke, but viruses aren’t. I’m not saying that you can’t use a computer or own an email account, but I am warning you of the dangers that this may bring. So use it safely or don’t use it at all!