What do you do to protect your computer from being infected by a virus, worm or spyware attack?
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Fri Oct 24, 08 08:36 AM
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Internet threats and risks are prevalent in
the online world. Viruses, worms, Trojan horses, spyware, hackers and other
malicious code can cause minor annoyances to large-scale damage on computer
users’ PCs or even their personal identity. How have online threats affected
you and what steps do you take now to protect your systems?
Other people already
suggested software utilities that you could download and install to help
protect you. Instead I will list common sense tips that sometimes get
overlooked:
1. Do not install software that you do not trust or did not intend to install
in the first place.
Example: A while ago I downloaded and installed DIVX player software. During
the installation process it prompted to install Gator. Gator was notorious as
spyware.
2. Make sure you update your firewall, antivirus, and other software
applications you use on your computer. Keeping up to date with the software
available will make it harder for someone to compromise your system. This goes
double for system updates such as Windows Update
3. Do not install P2P file sharing software at all. The power that P2P file
sharing software gives is also it's biggest flaw. P2P software gives you the
power to download music/movies from someone else's computer at the cost of
letting people download music/movies off of your computer. Now who's to say
that someone cannot alter a movie, let's call it "Spiderman 3 Full
Movie", and mask that file so that it installs a keystroke recorder if you
try to play the movie. Now let's take it further and say that the person that
created this file also programmed it to automatically upload any passwords to
his computer via the P2P file sharing software. You wouldn't even know that
your passwords were being logged and uploaded off your computer everytime you started
the P2P software.
4. Immediately delete email from people that you do not know.
Example: From time to time I receive email that looks like it comes from Bank
of America telling me to login to online banking and check my status. I don't
even have an online banking account with Bank of America.
5. If you must download and install software make sure it is from a reputable
website.
6. Do not go to websites that you are unsure of or never heard of.
Example: http://www.google.com is ok to go to but I would
avoid going to gogggggle.com, googgel.com, and googledot.com
7. Do not go click on those banners promising you a free Nintendo if you can
kill the spiders.
8. Do not be afraid to virus scan your files once a week or even once a day.
Most antivirus softwares allow you to set up your computer to be scanned
automatically at anytime of the day. Pick a time that you know no one will be
using the computer, such as 4am in the morning, then till it to scan your
computer at that time.
9. Always back up your work in case something happens.
Link:
http://blog.bitcomet.com/batusai/post_71213/
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