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The Internet can be an extremely
dangerous place for your computer.
Hackers, spyware, and viruses are
among the potential threats that
exist on the Internet.
Here at Intermind we believe the best defense
against these threats is a good
offense. Included on this page you
will find the latest virus threats,
graciously provided by the folks
over at Symantec, as well as links
to a few of the many different tools
available to aid in keeping your
surfing experience a safe and pleasant
one.
With the sheer volume of new viruses that
have been released in recent months,
a good anti-virus program is essential
for the protection of your computer.
Two important features to look for
in an anti-virus suite are automatic
updating and a scanner for incoming
and outgoing email messages. Most
commercial anti-virus software includes
these features and many more than
we have space to cover. Two popular
choices are Norton Antivirus from
Symantec and McAfee VirusScan from
McAfee Security, both are considered
to be industry leaders and can be
purchased from almost any software
retailer.
A fairly new phenomenon to the Internet
has been the advent of what is commonly
referred to as spyware. Put simply,
there are programs that can do a
variety of nasty things such as
track what web sites you visit,
change your home page, or even download
software without your knowledge.
Though this is a prospect that is
mildly terrifying at best, the solution
is as simple as a spyware removal
program such as Ad-aware or Spy
Sweeper. This type of program will
scan your entire computer for any
of the known spyware and remove
it.
Our final recommendation is to invest in
a good firewall such as Zone Alarm
from Zone Labs. A firewall, though
the name sounds far more aggressive,
is essentially like the front door
to your home. Chances are, you lock
the door to keep people from coming
in when you don't want them to.
The firewall does the same thing,
only for your computer. You can
still allow your friends (Internet
Explorer, Instant Messenger and
the like) in and out at will, but
if a virus or worm comes knocking,
the door is slammed shut.
Users of Microsoft Windows should make
a point to visit Microsoft Windows
Update and download the latest patches
and updates for your particular
version of Windows. Some versions
of windows support Automatic Updates
— consult your Windows documentation
for more information. |
