Protect Yourself

The computer virus.

Everyone’s heard of them, everyone knows they are a Bad Thing™, but the majority of internet users don’t know exactly what they are, where they come from, or how to protect themselves. So let’s shed some light on them, shall we?

The ‘Computer Virus’ has become the catch all term for malicious software that is downloaded and run on your computer without your consent or knowledge. They can range from the humorous (Such as the infamous “Cookie Monster” virus that places a picture of the cookie monster on your screen that won’t go away until you type “cookie”)…to the downright destructive that can wipe your drive, or re-flash your bios chip, turning your computer into a big, expensive paperweight.

So where do they come from?

Well, the true answer is a lot of places. Plenty come from semi-legitimate companies that will install spyware on your computer. (Spyware is a hidden program that records information such as your web surfing habits in order to target, among other things, spam email and pop-ups). Others are written purposefully by people who just think it’s cool to see how many computers they can crash.

There’s no doubt about it, these things are scary. You can unwittingly download a virus that can give a hacker the same level of access to your machine as if he were sitting right in front of it. Your personal information can be stolen, and your machine can crash, or suffer severe performance issues.

However, protecting yourself is easy, if you follow a few simple steps:

1) Install a firewall.

Windows XP comes with a firewall, and it’s a simple matter of making sure it’s turned on, and leaving it on. To do this, click “Start”, then “Control Panel” (if it’s not already, click the button on the left of the window that says “Classic View”), then double-click “Windows Firewall”. Then simply check the box for “On”.

If you want a little more control, Zone Alarm is an excellent (and free) firewall that comes with a step-by-step tutorial on how to install and use it.

But what is a firewall, and what does it do?

Think of a firewall as a barrier between you and the internet. It works like a Customs Checkpoint, whereby it only lets certified or approved programs access. Hackers will often run “port scans” where they simply leave their computer running, looking for computers with open ports that they can exploit to get access. A firewall intercepts the information from the hackers and responds with a signal that says no computer is at that IP address. In short, it makes you (in most cases) invisible to hackers.

Long story short it gives you complete control of all communications between you and the internet.

2) Install a virus checker

Again, there are plenty of free Anti-Virus programs available on the internet. These programs monitor all internet activity and will warn you if it spots an infected file.

However, the most important thing to know with anti-virus software is you must update them regularly. New viruses are written all the time, and without updating your checker, the software will simply not recognize a file as infected.

This is incredibly easy and simple to do, usually a couple of mouse clicks once a week, and many can be set to automatically update and scan at regular intervals.

3) Make sure you have the latest version of your browser, and better yet, switch to Mozilla Firefox

Old browsers are full of security holes that can be exploited. The basic rule of thumb is the newer the version of your browser, the less security holes it has. Firefox, for example, has lots of security features built in. Go to www.mozilla.com to download it.

4) Use good surfing practices and habits.

Ok, I can’t state this strongly enough. DO NOT OPEN EMAIL ATTACHMENTS UNLESS YOU DEFINITELY TRUST THE SOURCE.

This is the Number One way that viruses get onto your computer.

For example, if you’ve asked a friend to email you some pictures, and your friend does so, you can assume that it’s safe to open the attachment. However, if you receive an unsolicited email with an attachment, just delete it.

It doesn’t matter if the email says you’ve won a million dollars, an old flame is desperate to get in touch with you, you have a package waiting at the post office, just delete it. The “ILOVEYOU” virus caused havoc globally, simply because people couldn’t resist opening an email attachment.

The other thing to understand is just because you know the source of an email does not make it safe. Email forwards are a classic example of this. You receive a forward from a friend that has an attachment that has a funny video, picture, flash game, whatever. However, even though you receive this forward from your friend does not mean it’s safe.

In other words, someone writes a virus, bundles it in an attachment with a video, and sends it to a few thousand people. Some of these people open it, think it’s funny and forward it to everyone they know. However, while you’re watching that video, the hidden program is downloading all kinds of malware onto your computer.

Long story short, if you asked a trusted source for the attached item, it’s probably safe. If it’s unsolicited, there’s a much higher chance of infection. (This doesn’t mean you should delete the vacation pictures your friend sent you, just because you didn’t ask to see them…however, a forwarded email that’s passed through a few hundred computers is a much higher risk.)

Again: ONLY OPEN ATTACHMENTS THAT YOU KNOW COME FROM A TRUSTED SOURCE.

The same is also true of pop-ups and advertisements on many websites. Know that flashing banner ad that says you are the millionth visitor, and “click here to claim your iPod/Xbox/Laptop/Large Wad of cash’? The only thing you’re going to get from clicking it is a link to a dodgy site, and probably yet more malware, pop-ups and annoyances.

If something seems to good to be true, it probably is.

Conclusion

It’s no secret that a virus, spyware or malware can seriously damage your computer. However, by following a few simple rules, there is no reason you should ever get a computer virus.

A big problem is people think this is a rare occurrence, or they don’t have to worry about hackers because they have nothing private or personal on their computer. However, every time I have worked on a computer that wasn’t running a firewall or virus checker I’ve found at least 5 or 6 malicious or spyware programs. In once case, I found no less than 60 different viruses, and over 1000 spyware programs.

I’ve also been called by the same person multiple times, only to find they continually turn their virus checker and security programs off because it “Slows their computer down”. It’s true, running security programs will have a small impact on system performance, but this is the equivalent of leaving your car unlocked with the keys in the ignition in order to get an extra 5mph out of it. In other words you have a choice. Take a minimal performance hit, or a massive one when your computer gets loaded with malware. Wait an extra couple seconds for your programs to start up, or have your computer totally break down a couple times a month.

It’s not difficult to stop this Malware. To reiterate:

Install or turn on your firewall.

Install a virus and spyware checker, and update and scan regularly.

Do not open email attachments.

Be wary of pop-ups and banner ads.

You wouldn’t leave your home or car unlocked, so don’t do the same with your computer.

Links

www.mozilla.com : The best and most secure browser available

http://www.zonelabs.com/store/content/company/products/znalm/freeDownload.jsp : Zonealarm firewall, great functionality and free.

http://www.safer-networking.org : Home of Spybot – Search and Destroy, an excellent and free spyware remover.

http://free.grisoft.com/doc/1 : AVG anti-virus, a good, free, anti-virus package