Dear IT Expert,
How can I protect my technology from
viruses and hackers?
--Concerned in Cincinnati
Dear Concerned,
My advice for you is simple and complex at the same time. As
long as you’re connecting to the internet there is no absolute
assurance that you’ll be completely protected, but here are
three major pointers that will make a big difference in keeping
you safe and secure:
1) Update, update, update
Make sure that you always have the latest versions of all your
software. Old versions of web browsers, email programs and
office productivity suites may contain security holes that can
be exploited by virus writers to access your computer. Install
the latest version of your antivirus program on your computer
and update the virus signature files regularly. Most antivirus
software vendors publish updates weekly and whenever a new
threat is discovered. Use Windows Automatic Updates and download
hot fixes and service packs for Windows as they are released.
Visit Microsoft's Windows Update website to update Internet
Explorer and Outlook Express and Microsoft's Office Update
website to update Office and Outlook.
2) Be extremely careful what
you open
Never open an email attachment unless you know exactly what it
is and are expecting it. Even if it appears to have been sent to
you by someone you know, most worms have the ability to falsify
the "From" address of an email. If you receive an attachment
from a familiar email address, but were not expecting anything,
you should contact the sender before opening the attachment. If
you receive a message with an attachment and you do not
recognize the sender, you should delete the message. Selecting
the option to view your email messages in plain text, not HTML,
will also help you to avoid a virus.
Make sure you back up your data (documents, bookmark files,
important email messages, etc.) on disc so that in the event of
a virus infection, you do not lose valuable work. Run a virus
scan on removable media (CD-ROMs, floppy disks, USB keys,
external hard drives etc.) and files that you receive through
online messaging and music services (IRC, ICQ, Kazaa, etc.)
before you open or run them.
Use a firewall. When you are
browsing the Internet, the firewall creates a shield between
your computer and possible attacks from the Internet.
3) Use software that detects
adware and spyware.
Spyware is one type of malicious software (malware) that
collects information from your computer system without your
consent. While some spyware exploits flaws in operating systems
or applications, much of it still relies on tricking you into
running or installing malware. False Anti-Spyware Applications
available on some internet sites advertise themselves as
detection or removal tools when in fact they themselves are
spyware. Microsoft Windows Defender, Lavasoft Adaware, and
Spybot Search and Destroy are legitimate, effective, and can all
be used together for maximum protection.
Again, none of these is “foolproof”, and after every new
security measure comes a brand new type of threat, but use these
tools wisely and you’ll cut your risk down to the barest
minimum.
All the best,
Your IT Expert at PC On Call
Bibliography:
http://www.us-cert.gov/reading_room/
http://www.f-prot.com/news/vir_alert/ |
