A new worm-style virus is making its way across the Internet. You know you've got it if your Windows PC restarts itself every 60 seconds. It's extremely frustrating.

Protecting yourself against getting this virus is as easy as running Windows Update and making sure that you have installed all of the Critical Updates.

The Blaster worm exploits a vulnerability in the code of Windows XP, Windows 2000, and Windows NT 4.0.
Windows 95, Windows 98, and Windows ME computers are NOT affected by this virus.

Removal

We recommend that you first install the FixBlast tool from Symantec. Click here to download the tool, and choose to save it to your desktop. Run the tool immediately -- especially since you only have 60 seconds before the PC reboots! If it reboots before you can get to it, just run it (the icon should be on your desktop) after Windows starts up again.

After you successfully run FixBlast, reboot your computer, and then run FixBlast a second time. This is just to make sure that you have no lingering effects of the virus still on your computer.

Next, you should install a patch from Microsoft's web site. Click the appropriate link below to download the patch. Save it to your desktop, and then double-click on it to install.

• Patch for Windows XP
• Patch for Windows 2000

Windows Update

You should use Windows Update regularly in order to protect your PC against this and other vulnerabilities. Visit the Windows Update site and download all of the Service Packs and Critical Updates available for your system. It is important to keep your system up-to-date in order to avoid these types of viruses.

-If you get stuck, don't worry. post a question on our Q & A Forum and the Help2Go community will provide the answers you need.

-For instructions on using Windows Update, try this web page from American University.

-For full information about the Blaster Worm, visit Symantec, the makers of Norton Anti-Virus.

-If you are looking for free anti-virus software, we at Help2Go suggest AVG Anti-Virus

-For more information about viruses in general, please refer to Help2Go's article on the Dreaded Computer Virus.