SEVERAL YEARS AGO I heard an industry pundit refer to computer viruses as the electronic equivalent of graffiti. This was annoying but not particularly damaging. I wonder what he thinks now? Last year (1999), encounters with malicious software, computer viruses, worms, & Trojan horse programs resulted in approximately $12.1 billion in damages. Certainly not the electronic equivalent of graffiti, this is better described as the cyber equivalent of a car bomb--destructive, indiscriminate, and costly. Contrary to what's often portrayed in the movies or on the six o'clock news, malicious software has no magical powers, it won't cause you monitor to burst into flames, or gnaw through your keyboard and bite off your fingers. Computer viruses, Trojan Horse programs, and Worms are simply computer programs. In order for one of them to do damage, some type of programmatic code has to be run. In simple terms, the only way malicious software (malware) can infect your computer is if you:
ThreatsUnderstanding the threats is half the battle in defending against malicious software. So what is a virus? A worm? A Trojan Horse program? A hoax?
SolutionsHow can you defend yourself again malicious software? First, you should invest in a quality antivirus program and keep it up to date. Always remember that antivirus software is a perishable commodity and has to be updated regularly (once a week in most cases) in order to be effective. Second, you should practice Safe Hex religiously. You should never, ever:
Other things you should always do are:
Third if you're using Microsoft Outlook or Outlook Express to read e-mail and news group messages, make sure you install all of the available patches and updates from Microsoft and disable scripting in messages. To disable scripting in Microsoft Outlook & Outlook Express, Open Control Panel|Internet Options|Security and select the "Restricted Sites" zone. Now click "Custom Level" and set every entry to disable except:
Now click "OK" and answer yes to the "Are you sure you want to do this?" dialog. Click "Apply" and then "OK" to close the Internet Options dialog. Now open Outlook or Outlook Express, select Tools|Options|Security, and change the default security zone to Restricted Sites. ConclusionsWant to know more about malicious software and how to defend yourself against it? Then attend the July 11 general meeting of the Danbury Area Computer Society 7 p.m. at the Danbury Hospital Auditorium. You may download the audience handout of the presentation from our Web site at http://www.dacs.org. DACS gemeral meetings are open to the public. For more information about the July meeting or the Special Interest Group meetings that take place during the month, check our Website at or call our Resource Center 203-748-4330. Coming in August: Henry Gil, Voyetra Turtle Beach, Inc., Digital Music. Handouts |