By the time ITS or other computer staff know of the virus, it has probably already spread significantly. Therefore, do not rely on warnings in advance. While it is strongly recommended you keep your virus protection software up to date, there can also be short delays between the appearance of a new variant of virus and protection against it being included in the software. Therefore, it is important that email users develop sound practices to protect themselves from these viruses. The most important measure is to take extreme caution when receiving ANY unsolicited attachment. It doesn't mattter that the email came from someone you know - remember that these viruses can mail themselves out to all addresses in the addressbook of an infected computer. Check with the sender if you didn't ask for the attachment and there is no PERSONAL message included. Something like the message on the Homepage worm: Hi!
You've got to see this page! It's really cool ;O) is totally anonymous and could not be considered a "personal" message. And signatures are appended automatically, so don't rely on them either. When sending unsolicited attachments, the reverse applies. Make sure you include a message that is clearly personal. Those who use a Microsoft mail program on a Windows system have been the most vulnerable to date, but don't rely on the fact that you use something else. The Magistr worm used Netscape address books as well as Microsoft. Other mail programs or systems could easily be affected in the future. | 
