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Viruses and Malware
Summary: Internet Safety is difficult and yet critical. Here are the seven key steps to internet safety - steps to keep your computer safe on the internet.
Virii & Spyware & Worms ... oh my!
"Internet Safety" seems like an oxymoron.
It seems like not a day goes by where we don't hear about some new kind of
threat aimed at wreaking havoc across machines connected to the internet. While
products other than Microsoft's are certainly vulnerable, anti-Microsoft
sentiment coupled with the massive installed base make Microsoft products an irresistible target for hackers and "script kiddies".
Here are some things you can, and should, do to stay safe.
•
- Use a Firewall - A firewall is a piece of software or
hardware that sits between your computer and the internet and only allows
certain types of things to cross the wall. For example, a firewall may allow
checking email and browsing the web, but disallow things that are commonly not
as useful such as RPC or "Remote Procedure Calls". In fact, it's
vulnerabilities in RPC that allowed for one of the more recent worms to
propagate. (If you're using a phone to dial-in to the internet, a firewall is
not as important, though it doesn't hurt to have one. A software firewall may
be your only option, though.) More: What's a firewall, and how do
I set one up?, Do
I need a firewall, and if so, what kind?, So do I need SP2's Windows
Firewall or not?.
- Virus Scan - Sometimes, typically
via email, virii are able to cross the wall and end up on your computer anyway.
A virus scanner will locate and remove them from your hard disk. A real
time virus scanner will notice them as they arrive, even before they hit
the disk, but at the cost of slowing down your machine a little.
Important: because new virii are arriving every day, it's
important to keep your virus definitions up-to-date. Be sure to enable the
scanning software's automatic-update feature and have it do so every
day. More: Viruses: How do I keep
myself safe from Viruses?, I run
Anti-Virus software, why do I still sometimes get infected?, When do I actually need to run a virus scan?.
"It all might seem overwhelming, but it's not nearly as
overwhelming as an actual security problem if and when it happens to
you."
- Kill Spyware - Spyware is similar
to virii in that they arrive unexpected and unannounced and proceed to do
something undesired. Normally spyware is relatively benign from a safety
perspective, but it can violate your privacy by tracking the web sites you
visit, or add "features" to your system that you didn't ask for. The worst
offenders are spyware that hijack normal functions for themselves. For example,
some like to redirect your web searches to other sites to try and sell you
something. Of course some spyware is so poorly written that it might as well
be a virus, given how unstable it can make your system. The good news
is that, like virus scanners, there are spyware scanners that will locate and
remove the offending software. More: Spyware: How do I remove and
avoid spyware?, What's
the best Pop-Up Blocker? Anti-Virus Software? Anti-Spyware Software?,
Is Microsoft's
new Anti-Spyware program any good?.
- Stay Up-To-Date - I'd wager that
over 90% of virus infections don't have to happen. Software
vulnerabilities that the viruses exploit usually already have patches available
by the time the virus reaches a computer. The problem? The user simply failed
to install the latest patches and updates that would have prevented the
infection in the first place. I still see this constantly, as some of the most
popular articles here on Ask Leo! deal with exploits that were patched nearly 2
years ago. The solution is simple: enable automatic updates, and visit
Windows Update periodically. More:
How do I make sure that Windows is up-to-date?.
- Get Educated - To be blunt, all
the protection in the world won't save you from yourself. Don't open
attachments that you aren't positive are ok. Don't fall for phishing
scams. Don't click on links in email that you aren't positive are
safe. Don't install "free" software without checking it out first - many "free"
packages are free because they come loaded with spyware, adware and worse. When
visiting a web site, did you get a pop-up asking if it's ok to install some
software you're not sure of because you've never heard of it?
Don't say "OK". Not sure about some security warning you've
been given? Don't ignore it. Choose strong passwords, and don't share
them with others. More: Phishing?
What's Phishing?, How do
I get rid of all this SPAM?!?!.
- Secure Your Mobile Connection -
if you're traveling and using internet hot spots, free Wifi or internet cafes,
you must take extra precautions. Make sure that your web email access
is via secure (https) connections, or that your regular mail is over an
encrypted connection as well. Don't let people "shoulder surf" and steal your
password by watching you type it in a public place. Make sure your home Wifi
has WPA security enabled if anyone can walk within range. More: How can I keep my email safe from sniffing?, Can hackers see data
going to and from my computer?.
- Don't forget the physical - an
old computer adage is that "if it's not physically secure, it's not
secure." All of the precautions I've listed above are pointless if other people
can get at your computer. They may not follow the safety rules I've laid out. A
thief can easily get at all the unencrypted data on your computer if they can
physically get to it. The common scenario is a laptop being stolen during
travel, but I've gotten reports of people who've been burned because a family
member or roommate accessed their computer without their knowledge. More:
How can I keep data on my laptop secure?, What backup program should I use?.
It all might seem overwhelming, but it's not nearly as overwhelming as an
actual security problem if and when it happens to you. While we might want it
to be otherwise, the practical reality of the internet, and computing today, is
that we each must take responsibility for our own security online.
Article C2374 - June 19, 2005
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There are many free antispyware programs you can use such as Spybot, Malwarebytes, Adaware, and even the new Microsoft one.
href=http://www.onlinecomputertips.com/tutorials/spyware.html>Spyware cleaning tutorial
href=http://www.onlinecomputertips.com/spyware/malwarebytes.html>Malwarebytes Anti Malware
href=http://http://www.onlinecomputertips.com/spyware/sec_essentials.html>Microsoft Security Essentials
Posted by: Jim at May 5, 2010 11:59 AM9/Jun/2010 16:46
You wrote "viri" as the plural for virus. The correct plural is "viruses".
Sincerely,
Barry Karas
PS Perhaps "viri" is okay in the UK and Australia?
Posted by: Barry Karas at June 9, 2010 2:27 PMHi, I visited this website first time today and found it really interesting. How much elaborated your articles are. I really liked them. I will keep on visiting on your website and will let others know about it, if you keep the same quality. Keep it up man! Gud luck!
Thanks for such a knowledgable resource.
Posted by: Chetan at June 15, 2010 4:14 AMThank you, Leo, for this very helpful reminder -- to watch ourselves. All your tips and good advice will come to naught if we forget or ignore them.
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