SwatTheVirus

Basic Virus Info

1. Most issues with a computer today are not with a "virus" most of todays threats come from a group of threats termed "malware" this includes spyware, keystroke loggers, backdoors, trojans. ect.
2. Most antivirus vendors also protect you from most of these threats.
3. If security is absoloutly essential than the computer should never be connected to anything else (ie. no network, internet, removable storage devices) everything is a trade off, what do YOU see as a reasonable risk? connecting a computer to the internet to check your email account places you at risk.
4. I have seen studies that show most computers are infected by some form of "malware" within four minutes of the first time they are connected to the internet. (this was done by a reputable Virus research lab that was tracking these types of issues)
5. There are common sense things that can be done to protect yourself.

I will try to provide a rough outline of how to provide basic security and protection for most home users. (if you have critical information , an attorney with your legal doccuments, classified top secret information, etc. this type of information has no buisness being on your home computer IT IS NOT SECURE!).

Always turn on automatic updates from microsoft. Have current antivirus installed, most antivirus vendors provide at lease Daily antivirus updates I suggest setting these to update automatically also. If using Win XP turn on the windows firewall (the Win XP firewall is enabled pre OS boot IE. before you can log in the firewall is on.)

posted by Dennis @ 1:08 PM