Are You Protected?

by Bob Seidel

When I am not spending my time reading election ads in the papers (yeah, right), I think about ways to better protect my clients from the very cold and hostile computing world out there on the Internet. I promise myself often that I am not going to make an issue out of it and that I am not going to devote a lot of column space to it. I certainly don't want to sound like Chicken Little.

But, the sky IS falling, and I see lots of people with less protection than they should have. I get emails with the Klez virus every day; what is interesting is that these are now coming from unknown people. You might think that is less a problem than receiving the infected emails from people you know. But it is. Let me explain.

Viruses are passed between computers that are not protected with adequate anti-virus software. Once the virus gets control, it sends copies of itself out to the email Ids of people it finds on the infected computer - usually from the user's address book. It's become pretty common to get virus-infected emails that way.

But when a virus-infected email comes from a stranger, that is more disturbing. That indicates that perhaps the virus is being sent intentionally, since I am quite certain that my email ID is not in the address book of these senders. Unintentional virus spreading is one thing - intentional attempts at infection are yet another escalation of the ongoing war.

But all you need to fight email viruses is a good anti-virus program. Faithful readers of my column know that I recommend the Norton Anti-Virus program. Unfortunately the cost has gone up for the 2003 version - now about $50 at the local Wal-Mart. I have the latest version now - actually I have the package including the software firewall and anti-virus called Norton Internet Security. I had earlier promised a review of the software, but there really isn't much new to comment on. It's still the best out there and I recommend that you get a copy and install it ASAP if you don't have it.

But the problem is not just viruses in email. You can get all kinds of bad software just from visiting websites. I have a client who has now spent hours and hours on the phone with Microsoft attempting to get rid of something called Xupiter. This story is so bad that I am going to devote an entire column to it once it gets resolved.

Another trend that I am seeing is that small businesses are now putting in high-speed Internet (Road Runner or DSL) connections in their offices. When they do this, they don't realize that they are creating what is called a computer network or LAN (Local Area Network). Viruses can spread easily on a LAN and damage can be done to your computer on a LAN even if you have anti-virus software on your computer. The problem is compounded in real estate offices as most of the agents are independent and manage their own computers. Although I carry a notebook computer with me on service calls, I am very wary when connecting it to such a network and will avoid it if I can. In a similar manner, if I have to use a floppy diskette at a client's site, it stays there - I never bring it back home for fear of infection.

So, OK, I have spent another column on viruses. But I really think it was necessary and I recommend that you get professional help on this if your office is at risk. Well - one bright spot on the horizon - the elections are tomorrow and the ads are (hopefully) going to stop! Then, we will just have to clean up all those signs on the roads…

Bob Seidel is a local computer consultant in the Southport / Oak Island area. You can visit his website at www.bobseidel.com or e-mail him at bsc@bobseidel.com).