If
you needed convincing, certainly the events of
August 2003 should put you over the top on the issue of
keeping your computer protected against those on the Internet
who
would wish you harm. While having an updated virus checker
is a good idea, it's not the only thing that you need to
do.
Keep Software Current
Anyone who's ever written software seldom gets it right first
time around. If they did, every software package would
be version 1.0! Your computer's operating system is just
software.
Pretty sophisticated software, but just software all the
same. Whether you're running a Macintosh or Windows operating
system, you need to pay attention to security updates.
Fortunately, both operating systems make it pretty easy
to stay current. Configure Windows Update in your Control
Panel and Macintosh software update in your System Preferences
to check for updates regularly. Read about the updates
and keep your system safe.
It's not only your operating system that needs to be kept
current. Any software that you use should be updated regularly.
This ensures that you have the latest functionality. Other
software like Internet Explorer, Microsoft Office, or anything
that integrates completely into the operating system can
leave your computer vulnerable. Making sure that you have
the latest isn't being fanatic; it's being reasonable!
Virus Checker
Everyone knows that you should have a virus checker on your
system. It only makes sense with the nasty things that
can be done to your computer by evil code. Until this summer,
Ontario teachers had the ability to use the award winning
Command Antivirus software. With the new licensing, there
are no takehome rights. So, you need to find something
current to do the job.
If you like Command Antivirus, you can purchase your own
copy online at http://www.commandcom.com. If you'd like an
alternative, there are plenty. Just some of the commercial
entities are:
A
commercial product that does have free home use is AVG
and it comes from Grisoft. http://www.grisoft.com/us/us_index.php.
A direct link to the free download is at: http://free.grisoft.com/doc/1.
Read all this, and more at: http://antivirus.about.com/
Emergencies
This should never be used in place of a
full-blown virus program. However, there are a few utilities
that can help out in a pinch. If you have to use these,
learn from your experience and get yourself permanent protection
and keep it up to date!
Worm
Simulator
Courtesy of the Symantec Corporation, you can download this
worm simulator to see just how quickly computer worms spread.
Worm Simulator
Spyware Protection
In this day and age, just having virus protection isn't
enough. There is a new breed of nasties known as "Spyware".
These are code that exists on your computer and tracks
where you go on the internet. The idea is to customize
the advertising that is sent to your computer. The logic
is to identify the types of products that you're more
likely to want to buy. Many of the commercial sites
above offer
software to protect you from this.
In addition, there are two other products to do the same
thing for you.
Microsoft
is developing its own anti-spyware software that you
can download and install on your computer from: http://www.microsoft.com/defender/
If you use Internet Explorer and would like to quickly check
out your browser for Spyware, hijackers, and the like - click
here http://aumha.org/a/noads.htm
Firewalls
This summer featured some pretty entertaining advertising
on television about what happens when you open your computer
to the world. I laugh at the dog and the couch. To protect
yourself, you need to have a Firewall enabled.
With Windows XP and the new Mac OS X, a firewall is part
of the system. With Windows XP, right click on the connection
you're using and select the advanced tab. A checkbox there
lets you enable the built-in firewall.
With Mac OS X, from the System Preferences, you'll want
to check out File Sharing. There is a Firewall tab there
to do the trick.
What do you do if you don't have these operating system
or you're looking for more control about what goes in and
out of your computer? Consider a separate firewall product.
Again, the commercial sites above typically offer a firewall
alternative in addition to their antivirus products..
Probably the best known firewall for Windows is Zone Alarm
from Zone Labs. They offer a free firewall for the download
at http://www.zonelabs.com.
In addition, a commercial upgrade is available.
Hoaxes
If it wasn't bad enough that there are some bad things ready
to attack your computer, there are people spreading hoaxes.
Typically, a hoax ends up in your mailbox because a concerned
friend has read about some new attack that "even Microsoft"
doesn't know about.
To
cure this problem, you're invited to go into your operating
system with the hands of a surgeon and remove files from
your hard drive! This could render your system unbootable.
Typically,
people just forward the warning message onto others. Next
time that you receive something like this, highlight a
portion of the official looking text and paste it into
your favourite
search engine. You'll be amazed at the number of hits that
you'll get. Virus hoax protection sites will post the entire
content of these messages and you'll find out very quickly
that this supposedly important message was just a hoax.
If
you want to read more about virus hoaxes, check out many
of the websites devoted to this.
Visit
any of the sites above to read more about viruses, hoaxes,
firewalls, and spyware. There really are lots of things
that
need to be maintained on your computer to continue to enjoy
and use it safely.
Microsoft
Microsoft has a section of its website devoted to
ensuring that your computer is safe. They label it as a 1-2-3
approach. It's good advice. If you really get
into this, check out the section entitled the Baseline Security
Analyzer. Running a computer with a sophisticated operating
system and Internet access is serious business.
Speaking
of Microsoft, if you have a sluggish Internet Explorer,
you might want to check out these
tips for bringing it back
to life.
Gibson
Research
For an incredibly deep discussion of Internet safety,
Gibson Research's Shield's Up section will let you probe even
further into what you're exposing on the Internet.
Latest
Threats
Thanks to Eset, McAfee and Sophos
for providing these online services so that we can stay on
top of the latest threats in the area of virus and worm threats.
Eset
Virus Radar Online
McAfee
Security Alerts |
Sophos
Virus and Hoax Information Feed |
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Miscellaneous
Is all of this stuff new? Not really. All
of these nasties are based upon an implementation of Artificial
Intelligence which has intrigued computer programmers ever
since they learned that you could get a logic box to do
things for you. Of interest is this timeline.
Other Operating Systems
If you're a Macintosh or Linux user, are you safe?
Don't get too smug. Your computer needs to be protected as
well. Even the "rock solid" UNIX based OS X is now the target of worm writers.
Linux
users may want to consider Central
Command.
Macintosh
users should take a look at the Macintosh side of the virus
protection sites listed above or at the Intego website.
Virus Tracking Courtesy of Trend Micro
