Technology for Cayman Today
Protecting Your Home Computer
Internet technology has enabled the home computer user to reach out globally. From the comfort of our homes, we can communicate with anyone in the world who is also connected to the internet. Just as you wouldn't want friend or foe to enter your house uninvited, infecting you with the latest flu virus, so too you can prevent your home computer from unwanted virus threats. To protect yourself, keep your home computer door closed and locked and ask "Who's there?" as you peer through the peek hole before opening that door.
According to MessageLabs, a Managed Service Provider specializing in email security, one in every 200 emails contains a virus. Network Associates Inc. a leading provider of anti-virus and security products, reports that 62,000 virus threats exist today and virus writers create 200 new viruses every month. However, viruses are not the only external threat to your home computer. There are other critters out there finding their way to your desktop. Trojan horses and worms are becoming increasingly visible in the lives of home users. In most cases, with any one of these, victims have no idea they have an infection until it's too late.
The Cayman Islands are not exempt from these threats. Desmond Thomas, a local computer technician in the service department at SoftwareHouse Inc reports that, "Multiple computers come in everyday with virus problems".
The home computer user, no matter where he or she lives in the world, can no longer be complacent and ignorant of the security risks that once only enterprise IT personnel monitored.
Caution is the key. Monitoring your home computer and practicing good computer hygiene is not difficult, but you must do it regularly to help prevent infection.
Here's what is required:
(1) Install, update and utilize an anti-virus application. It
is not a luxury. You must have it and you must keep it updated.
Use well known, reliable anti-virus software such as Norton AntiVirus
2003 or McAfee VirusScan 6.0. These anti-virus software packages
are automatically updated via the web.
(2) If you use a broadband connection, such as DSL, to connect to the Internet, install a Firewall software application. Firewalls keep out malicious hackers from using your computer while you are connected to the Internet. Again, use a well-known, reliable firewall software application. Consumer Reports suggests ZoneAlarm Pro 3.0 or Norton Personal Firewall 2002. Windows XP has a built in firewall which is adequate, but you must activate it.
(3) Regularly backup your hard disk files, as some viruses and Trojan horse programs can corrupt files on your hard drive, where the majority of your files are permanently stored. A recent backup allows you to easily recover most, if not all, of your data.
(4) Update your operating system, browser and key software regularly. If your computer software is not up-to-date, you could unknowingly expose it to hacker attacks. Check with your software vendors regularly via the web for software updates, download them and install them.
(5) When you are not using your computer, log off the Internet. An intruder can not attack your computer if you are disconnected from the Internet.
(6) Opening email attachments is dangerous. Don't do it unless you know the person who sent the message, and feel comfortable with what they sent. Instead of adding to your risk, ask friends to cut and paste those cartoons into the body of the email instead of attaching a file. Email attachments are where many people expose their computers to a virus. You should never open email attachments from a sender you don't know. Instead immediately delete the message from both your Inbox and your Delete box.
(7) Create secure passwords. Experts all agree, your passwords should be at least eight characters, the more the better, and include at least one number and one symbol, as well as including both upper and lower case letters. Avoid common words. Never tell anyone your password, and try not to use the same password twice.
Even practicing good computer hygiene does not guarantee immunity from an infection. Should you find your computer and/or data compromised here is what to do:
- Log-off the Internet and unplug the cable from your computer to the phone line.
- Run your anti-virus software and scan your whole computer.
- Follow your anti-virus software recommendations for disinfecting your computer.
- If your software can not disinfect your system, turn off your computer. Do not attempt to continue using it while it's infected. Bring your system to a computer service shop to be disinfected by an expert.
To keep your computer and data safe everyone who uses your computer must practice good computer hygiene. No one is exempt from infections and hackers. You should know how to update your virus protection software and how to download security patches from your software vendors and how to create safe passwords. Just as you would protect your home and everything in it, keep your computer and data safe and in good running order by being prepared and staying informed and practicing good computer hygiene.
Helpful Resources:
· National Cyber Security Alliance:
http://www.staysafeonline.info
· Home Computer Security How-To:
http://www.cert.org/homeusers/HomeComputerSecurity/
· McAfee Antivirus: http://www.mcafee.com/
· ZoneAlarm Pro: http://www.zonelabs.com/store/content/home.jsp
· Norton Anti-Virus and Firewall
Software:
http://www.symantec.com
Glossary
Virus Loosely defined as malicious code that can infect and possibly damage a computer, it is actually a small self-replicating program. It often runs in the background without users noticing what it is doing. Viruses corrupt programs, delete files, alter system files and settings and may reformat your hard drive.
Firewall An application that runs in the background and watches over your computer while it's turned on. It enforces access control, permits or blocks access to your computer through "access policies" that you configure. It serves as added protection to prevent hackers from using your computer, or "stealing" information from you or about you.
Trojan horse A Trojan horse is a harmful program that masquerades as a harmless program but does not replicate. They are disguised as "safe programs". A Trojan horse needs an unassuming user to execute it and then it works in the background to damage or steal data. They either allow access to a victim's computer to upload other malicious programs or they use a victim's computer for malicious administrative tasks.
Worm Often spread via email or Internet Relay Chat
(IRC), as well as network connections. Can restart themselves
when a computer reboots. It is a self-contained program that replicates
itself over a network, such as the Internet.
Malware Malicious software such as viruses, worms
and Trojan horses.
"In the Wild" Malware that is in the wild is not contained in an experimental environment but spread among normal, unsuspecting computer users typically via the Internet.
Blended Threats New malware being seen in the wild that includes a virus, a worm and a Trojan horse all in one.
Polymorphic viruses New malware that changes code each time it replicates to thwart antivirus detection.