European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - December 25, 1991, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Wednesday thursday december 25 26, 1991 the stars and stripes a a Page 3computer viruses need t be fatal by Peggy Davidson Kaiserslautern Bureau Kaiserslautern Germany a viruses Are running rampant through army and air Force offices. Those viruses though Arentt causing sniffles and coughs among humans. Instead they re affecting computers. From typing and printing a letter of appreciation to tracking repair parts for an my tank from maintaining finance records to running a Complete diagnostic Check on a c-130 aircraft computers have made life easier for the military. In Europe alone military computer officials estimate that there Are More than 10,000 computers in use. A every individual working in the army even maintenance shops have computers a said Wally Frey 21st theater army area Comdr a chief of information systems Security. A everyone touches a keyboard at some  but what streamlines the military a business is also creating an Ever growing problem with computer viruses. A virus is a program designed to reproduce itself without the computer operators request said tech. Sgt. Diana Felkins a Safe a computer Security manager. Viruses come in Many forms and once in a computer can be extremely difficult to kill. They often change or destroy existing programs. A some viruses can be cured in five minutes some delete everything a said capt. Kurt is l. Lowe a Safe a chief of Security in the communications computers division. A some viruses done to have anti virus  computer software companies As Well As military computer experts Are constantly working to create programs to kill new viruses. Army and air Force computer officials said there Are about 10 out of the More than 100 known viruses infecting computers in Europe Lowe said that virtually every Safe base has had problems with a virus and the problems Are growing. In the last month Lowe said that eight Safe bases had reported viruses and at three virtually every comp ice on base is infected. One of the less damaging viruses is called  the virus a takes Over your screen and says a your a everyone thinks it wont happen to  computer users need to a know where your floppies have  a tech sgt. Diana Felkins Chine is now stoned a legalize marijuana a said Felkins. She added that the virus has been around for years. One of the More malicious viruses Jerusalem by overwrites everything and you can to recapture what is overwritten a she said. Felkins and Frey agree that most military computers Are infected through misuse. A a virus Means the person Hasni to maintained Good housekeeping a Frey said. Too often computer users will a go outside the rules and share with someone on the outside a he said. A if no child shall be forgotten a amps Roi Mary Sawyer air Force tech. Sgt. Russ Kubicek of shape he helps Melodie Delrue 3, unwrap a Christmas gift from members of the nato shape Community near Mons Bel Gium. Melodie lives in one of four local Foster car Homes the Community has hosted for the past 24 years. The Community gave about 100 gilts to the children. They follow our guidelines they la have no  running game programs on a military computer and using one floppy disk for Home and office work arc two of the main sources of computer viruses the computer Security managers agreed. Frey added that inadequate training of computer users also contributes to the problem. A people bring programs front  said Frey. A games Are  Quot a everyone thinks it wont happen to them a Felkins said. Computer users need to Quot know where your floppies have  Quot to protect military computers. Frey and Felkins offered some easily followed advice. A change passwords on a regular basis and when the usual computer user leaves. A avoid a floppy  done to take floppy disks Home or use them in other computers unless you know absolutely that Quot Quot Quot the other computer is not infected. A use Only approved software. A done to use programs from bulletin boards or games in military computers. A if you suspect that your computer or disks May be infected report it immediately to your local computer Security officials. Lowe advises storing backup copies of All data and setting up contingency plans for working without the computer. Both the army and the air Force have licenses to anti viral programs which can detect and clean up viruses. Felkins said that every Safe base computer Security manager has a program called a tool kit Quot for those who think their military computer is infected. 2 airmen honoured for rescuing victim from burning House Raf Ben Waters England a two airmen were recently presented the airman a medal for risking their lives while off duty to save a person caught in a House fire according to a news release. Senior airman Matthew Stevens and airman 1st class Christopher Raynor both with the 81st civil engr so were recognized for saving the life of one victim found in a House fire on dec. 6, 1990. According to the release both men were standing outside the arts and crafts Cen i Mai Raf Woodbridge on dec. 6, 1990, when they noticed smoke coming from the top floor of a military family housing unit. Finding the front door unlocked they entered the smoke filled House and heard someone screaming. While Raynor called the fire department Stevens went upstairs searching for the source of the voice. When Stevens  locate the victim he went Back outside. Stevens and Raynor then decided to re enter the building. With no Protection from the heat and smoke Stevens and Raynor found the victim upstairs. They then took the victim outside and away from the House. The victim was then treated for Shock until the fire department Rescue Crew arrived. The fire caused approximately $40,000 damage to the  seeking quite a few Good soldiers by Crystal Laureano staff writer Schwet Zingen Germany soldiers who bypass Reserve Counselor in their Rush to leave the army could lose out on valuable stateside employment opportunities say officials at 1st personnel come. Because much of the army in Europe is in a moving out phase often soldiers get Short notice of their departure Date said master sgt. Daniel woo of the usar eur Reserve component transition office. Soldiers focusing on leaving the army and Europe done to always take time to seriously consider Reserve component service after their discharge. Also Many com Manders fail to stress the importance of spending time with the local Reserve component transition cos woo said. Although a visit to the local Reserve component transition office is required by army regulations 90 Days prior to the soldiers separation Date 80 percent of the soldiers in Europe visit their local office seven to 14 Days before departing said sgt. Maj. Donald Wall Usa eur Reserve component transition program manager. Soldiers who receive an Early release from the army Are to be held on Active duty for 30 Days after their release is approved and should also have time to talk to a transition Counselor he said. While the army is lowering the num Ber of soldiers in order to stay below a congressionally mandated ceiling Reserve component strength is handled differently woo said. The Reserve component manpower Levels have floors or a minimum manpower number. During fiscal year 1991 the army recruiting command met Only 94 percent of its Reserve component recruiting goal Wai said a the reserves Are still looking for Good soldiers to continue their career with the army part time a woo said. A with ail the hype about the draw Down and offers of Early outs people tend to Overlook opportunities in the Reserve components a woo said. A but we want the Good soldiers to know that they Are worthwhile having on the  making a Reserve component commit ment is not easily done at stateside transition Points because time allowed to talk to Counselor during the final out Roecs sing stage is limited. Even if a Soldier does visit his or her Reserve component transition Ollice with plans to commit to part time military service it is crucial that the Soldier visit Early woo said. The opportunities for incentives a such As bonuses training programs and educational assistance a Are greater when the Counselor has More time to work with the Soldier and the system woo added