Tips for keeping your computer safe
Experts have recently begun to warn against stand-alone antivirus software, claiming it gives users a false sense of security but does little else to protect against the hundreds of newer attach vectors that exist online. Drexel provides Symantec Antivirus to its students, but there are a number of other programs, suites, and practices that are necessary to protect your computer.
1. Responsibility.
Since most banks and credit cards won't hold users responsible for fraudulent purchases, many computer users aren't nearly as careful as they should be online. Remember: no matter how you choose to protect your computer, you are responsible for your computer and keeping your personal information and data safe. Firewalls, anti-malware, and spam filters help, but things will still get through that require user intervention. Be smart about what you click on!
2. Updates.
I can't stress this enough. Set Windows to install important updates automatically. When you're at home, set your parents' computer to do the same thing.
3. Protection.
Performance issues aside, anti-virus is not a bad thing to run. But there are more things you should have in your arsenal:
- Microsoft Defender (free) - anti-malware that checks a number of additional attack pathways
- Top 5 Antispyware programs - Defender made it to #4, although McAfee's suite made #1 ($40)
- Turn on your firewall! All modern OSs have them built-in. Get a third party one if it makes you feel safer.
- Are you backing up your important research and data? It's hard to feel bad for people who don't have backups--it's like living in New Orleans without flood insurance. Just do it.
4. Give Your Computer A Check-up.
- Shields Up! - free,
quick port scanner to see what on your computer is communicating with
the outside world. On the second page, click the All Service Ports
button for a full scan.
- Make sure your protection software is updating. Most show the
last date that new definitions were downloaded on their main screen.
Make sure this date is recent (as in either yesterday's or today's date).
5. Don't Be Stupid.
Pop-ups on websites telling you "We've detected a virus! Click here to clean it!" or emails saying "This is the IRS--we have money for you if you click here." are not real. Newer browsers are designed with anti-phishing algorithms that compare the websites to both white- and black-lists and will turn the address bar green or red depending on what it finds. Pay attention to where you are! Bad websites are the equivalent of 23rd and Lehigh at 2am--get out of there quick. Clicking Yes to something you didn't want is the equivalent of some stranger calling you at home saying they need your credit card number and you giving it to them.
If you find your computer is infected, let me know. Programs like Process Explorer, Current Ports, Current Processes, and Hijack This make it easier to find and remove things, and plenty of boot disks like Ultimate Boot CD and Trinity Rescue CD make it possible to boot up outside of Windows and fix certain problems. But an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure. Be safe!