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Your Internet-connected computer is highly
vulnerable. It can be infected by viruses and worms.
Intruders may gain access to it to obtain your data,
read your communications, reformat your hard drive and
cause damage. Hackers may use it illegally to access
high-profile computer systems or launch attacks such
as denial-of-service on Web sites.
When your computer is compromised, if you are lucky,
it may be an inconvenience that causes minor data and
productivity loss. Unfortunately, as many computer and
business owners have found out, it can also be much more.
You can inadvertently become the unwilling accomplice
of illegal hackers. You can unknowingly help to spread
viruses to infest your friends' and associates' computer
systems. Your computer systems can lose critical data
and suffer significant damage. All this adds up to substantial
productivity and financial losses, and potentially to
legal liabilities.
How easy is it to break into your computer system or
to use it as a carrier of illegal activities? If your
computer is connected to the Internet, it is a potential
target. For the unwary computer user, it is a very easy
target. Hackers are always devising new viruses and new
ways to exploit vulnerabilities or holes in computer
software. Here are 12 Internet and computer security
tips you can use as a front-line defense. Time and money
spent on these crucial preventive measures will pay back
many times.
Your connection points with the Internet are vulnerable
to virus infections and to unauthorized access by hackers.
If your computer has a persistent Internet connection
and a known IP address, it is even more crucial to protect
your connections.
Tip 1: Apply software
patches. According to CERT, the
center of Internet security expertise, 95% of network
intrusions can be avoided by keeping your computer systems
up to date with patches from your operating system and
applications vendors. Install these patches whenever
possible, and as quickly as possible. If applying the
patches create repercussions, contact the vendors about
how to make their products continue to work when patched.
Tip 2: Use anti-virus
software. Install anti-virus software
on all Internet-connected computers and keep the software
up-to-date. Many software packages provide automatic
updates of the latest known viruses, which can help automate
the prevention task.
Tip 3: Install firewalls. Intruders are always scanning
computer systems for vulnerabilities. Firewalls can provide
some degree of protection against these attacks. Firewalls
are particularly important if you have an always-on Internet
connection. A hardware firewall attaches directly to
your DSL connection or cable modem, and your computer
system plugs into the firewall. A software firewall is
an application that installs directly on your computer
system. Firewalls start at affordable prices, and some
software firewalls even come free. Find out what your
needs are, and install a firewall.
Tip 4: Turn off
your Internet connection or computer when not in use. Hackers cannot access your computer
if it is not connected to the Internet. Turn off your
Internet modem or Ethernet interface at the end of your
workday or when you are not using it.
Tip 5: Do not open
unknown e-mail attachments. Viruses
are often spread as e-mail attachments. Once a computer
is infected, the virus may be spread by duplicating the
infected message and sending it to e-mail addresses in
the user's address book or computer system. These infected
attachments spread quickly because they appear to come
from someone you know. Before opening any attachments,
use an anti-virus program to scan for possible infections.
If in doubt, check with the sender to make sure the attachment
is authentic.
Tip 6: Do not hide
file extensions in e-mail attachments. Infected attachments are typically
scripts or executable
programs, and end with file extensions such as .exe or
.vbs. Hackers may try to camouflage the virus by hiding
the true extension of the infected attachment. For example,
the infamous Anna Kournikova virus was camouflaged as
AnnaKournikova.jpg.vbs. If your computer system does
not display file extensions, the attachment appears to
be an innocent graphic file called AnnaKournikova.jpg.
Windows operating systems contain an option to "Hide
file extensions for known file types", which is
enabled by default. Disable the option so you can see
the true nature of e-mail attachments.
Tip 7: Do not automatically
open e-mail attachments. Your e-mail program, such as Outlook Express, may offer
you an option to preview e-mail messages and automatically
open the attachments. Disable this option so you will
not inadvertently open an infected attachment and live
through the horror of seeing your computer send out the
infection to everyone in your address book.
Tip 8: Do not forward
suspicious e-mail attachments and programs you do not
trust. Hackers may infect programs
with Trojan Horse programs. Do not help hackers in their
illicit effort. Instead, delete suspicious attachments
and programs and clear out the garbage bin.
There are many potential perils your computer system
may have to endure even when it is not connected to the
Internet. Exercising vigilance can go a long way toward
preventing headaches and crises down the road.
Tip 9: Back up data. Your computer system is a crucial
depository of information, communications, and critical
business data. Protect against productivity loss and
the expense of reconstructing data. Make regular back-ups
of critical data. There are software and hardware back-up
tools that can automate your regular back-ups. At the
least, keep a copy of important files on removable media
such as Zip disks or CDs. Store the back-up disks somewhere
away from the computer or in a secure off-site location.
Tip 10: Ensure power
supply. Power problems such as
surges, blackouts or brownouts can cause data loss and
damage to computers. Install surge protectors and uninterruptible
power supplies to guard against such damage and give
you the time needed to save the data and properly shut
down your computer system if a power outage occurs.
Tip 11: Make a boot
disk. Create a boot disk before
a security event to help recover a computer in the event
of hard disk failure or a security breach.
Tip 12: Guard against
programs of unknown origin. Never
run a computer program unless it was developed by a vendor
or a programmer you can trust. Hackers have been known
to install Trojan horses into free computer programs
that are installed and circulated by users. Trojan horse
programs install back door programs which give the distributors
access to your computer without your knowledge, and can
change your computer configurations.
The Internet has become a central and crucial global
communications network. Unfortunately, its open network
architecture and its greatest asset is also its most
vulnerable Achilles heel. The best way to protect your
computer systems and your valuable data is to invest
needed resources in necessary precautions. Assign computer
security responsibilities to someone who has the expertise,
and make sure every user in your company is aware that
security is everyone's job.
Eternal vigilance is a necessary price, because new
viruses and new hacking tactics are devised constantly.
Visit credible sources like CERT Coordination Center
(http://www.cert.org) regularly, or subscribe to its
e-mail alerts to keep up-to-date on what you can do to
protect your assets and avoid being used as an unknowing
accomplice of cyber terrorists and hackers.
Copyright Eva Chiu and InfoAdvantage.
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