PROTECTING YOUR COMPUTER - 10 SIMPLE STEPS

NEW YORK, NY… August 18, 2004...

The incredible growth of the computer industry and the emerging ubiquity of the Internet has proved to be, as most people will readily admit, a double-edged sword. On one hand, exciting new technologies have made many of our everyday tasks faster and more efficient, while providing fresh avenues for business and entertainment. On the other hand, cybercriminals and unscrupulous hackers have taken advantage of this fast-moving medium, introducing untold volumes of scams, viruses, and the Internet's latest scourge, spyware.

Unfortunately, elaborate hoaxes and harmful programs are a constant reality for both businesses and the average web surfer, and the Internet security climate has never been shakier. Flaws and loopholes in the ubiquitous Microsoft software family (which is present on the vast majority of computers in the United States) have led to browser hijackings, worm distribution, and even attacks on websites that could allow thieves to access your bank account information. Microsoft has tried to update its software accordingly, but once a patch is released, hackers seemingly waste no time working around it.

The spread of these malicious wares is quickly reaching epidemic proportions… According to a recent study conducted by Kessler International, a computer forensics firm based in New York, at least 3 out of 4 consumer computers are in some way infected with unwanted code, and this number only increases with the growth of broadband Internet connections. A startling 85 percent of corporate networks report bugs in the system.

So how does one protect their PC from the multitude of Internet-borne germs?

"All it takes is an ounce of prevention," says Michael G. Kessler, president of Kessler International. "While nothing is absolutely foolproof, there are a number of steps you can take that will help boost your computer's security."

• Install anti-virus software, update virus definitions regularly, and scan all incoming files using a competent virus protection program such as McAfee VirusScan and Symantec's Norton Anti-Virus.
• Set up a firewall. Network professionals certainly know the benefit of having a firewall, but personal computer users should also set one up to help keep hackers from infiltrating your PC and stealing your personal information.
• If you are running Windows, be sure to download security updates from Microsoft whenever they become available. The long-awaited Windows XP Service Pack 2 is due to be released to the public in late August 2004, and will address a number of security issues within Windows XP, although certain applications may require some tweaking to maintain full functionality.
• Never open an email attachment unless you are absolutely sure what it is and where it came from. Even mail from a friend could be the result of a virus that has distributed itself through your friend's address list.
• Delete unsolicited or suspicious emails immediately, or filter them to your junk mail box. Even emails that look legitimate (such as messages from banks, auction sites or other financial institutions) may be "phishing" frauds attempting to trick you into supplying your personal information.
• Never agree to pop up windows that offer software updates, browser tools, plug-ins, or anything else that you aren't 100 percent sure of. If you think you need to download it, you can always find it at the company's website.
• Watch out for hidden file extensions. Only the last extension of a filename counts, so that seemingly innocent-looking family.jpg might actually be an executable file named family.jpg.exe. You can set Windows to display hidden file extensions in the Folder Options menu.
• Read license agreements for any software you download. Remember, very few things are free in this world, and chances are if you're downloading a "free" program, it's probably adware, or it contains undetectable spyware.
• Run updated adware/spyware elimination software. Good choices include Spybot - Search & Destroy by PepiMK Software and Lavasoft's Ad-aware.
• Consider using an alternative to Microsoft's Internet Explorer browser. Mozilla, Avant Browser and Opera generally offer excellent features and tougher security. If you do use Internet Explorer (and most people do), set the security settings to at least medium to help filter out possible issues.