With
the current volume of E-mail and Internet use, the Anti-Virus software
on your computer is, simply, the most critical software on your computer!
THE
PROBLEM
Having
worked for numerous years with Personal Computers, I have seen the volume
of PC virus infections increase dramatically. These viruses are also getting
more insidious and destructive. I am now seeing two or three customers
a week with a virus. Frequently the damage requires complete re-installation
of all the software on the machine. This means significant expense and,
occasionally, loss of important personal or business data.
About
30% of the machines that come to my shop have
NO virus protection
at all. Of the ones that have a virus scanner installed, only about 50%
keep the protection up to date. I never let a machine leave my shop
without a thorough scan and current virus protection installed!
POOR
CHOICE
I
frequently hear people saying, "I don't worry... I never open an attachment
from someone I don't know." Poor choice!
Can you guarantee your friends have a virus scanner program? More important,
do they keep their “new virus definitions” up to date? Being wary of attachments
is OK, but in today's world viruses can come in normal E-mail! If you can
accept HTML E-mail, the default for Internet Explorer and Netscape, you
can get a virus in a normal E-mail! The KAK Worm Virus is one of these
that has shown its ugly self all too often this year (2001).
THE
SOLUTION
Wouldn't
it just be easier to keep YOUR Virus Scanner current? Barring some
new breed of virus, your worries about E-mails or attachments are over.
Allow
me to explain. All viruses have digital signitures, kind of similar
to bad guys having fingerprints. The police keep their fingerprint files
up to date. You must keek your virus scanner's 'fingerprint' database up
to date also. Just going out and getting the latest scanning program is
not enough. “New” software you buy off the shelf will probably be 3 or
4 months old at best. You can check the program’s version and the last
date of the scanner’s installed virus definitions by running the program.
Clicking “about” in the help menu usually gives you the date. You must
keep your virus scanning definitions up to date. I recommend weekly. Also,
if practicle (slow speed, dialup access makes this difficult at best) also
keep your Windows Critical Updates done. Doing this would have stopped
the "Blaster" worm in its tracks.
HOW
TO KEEP CURRENT
The update service from the Web is free in many cases. In ten minutes
or less, you can download and install the latest data files.
Folks, keeping your virus scanner
current, at least every 2 weeks, is a must!
There
are many programs available. The most popular are McAfee’s Virus Scan (Network
Associates) and Norton’s Anti-Virus (Symantec). These are priced products,
but there are reliable free scanners also. Below are links to the more
popular scanners and their updated DAT files (also called definition, signature,
or pattern files). I shall try to keep this list current for your safety.
BE
ALERT TO OVER-BUYING
You
should not need to pay more than $29.95 + tax for a scanner program. Its
hard to buy only the scanning program frequently since they want to sell
a full suite of applications for more money. If you use dialup access a
firewall probably is not necessary and can cause problems down the road.
Generally
speaking, you only need the virus scanner program. Please avoid buying
a “package” of several programs, especially if you do not fully understand
their purpose or use. Read the packing box before buying. Read the manual
and online information before installing.
If
you are confident that you need other “safety” or “trouble-shooting utilities,”
install them only after reading about them. If possible, find others who
are using your version of Windows. Learn from their experience. Even
then, be warned. You install these other utilitites at your
own risk. You may find yourself running a slower PC with incomprehensible
screen messages, hard drive problems and even lost data.
THERE
IS NO SUBSTITUE FOR REGULAR BACKUP OF YOUR IMPORTANT FILES
A
Few Virus Scanning Programs and Update Addresses
Norton Anti-Virus
Version 4 or higher recommended. Version 2001 is now available.
latest data files found at: http://securityresponse.symantec.com/avcenter/download/pages/US-N95.html
McAfee Virus
Scan
Version 4 or higher recommended.
latest data files found at: http://download.mcafee.com/updates/4xa.asp?as=false&ref=5
to update the program, go to http://download.mcafee.com/updates/superDat.asp
AVG (Anti Virus Grisoft) http://www.grisoft.com/us/us_dwnl_free.php
Version 6 or higher. This is currently a FREE program
with FREE updates for home users. It is my personal choice and has
saved me numerous times. Updates are available while online
from within the program itself. Click the 'Virus Database' block then
'update'.
E-Trust Antivirus and can be acquired for
$19.95 at: https://www2.my-etrust.com/commerce/buy.it
An excellent program which replaced their very popular 'InoculateIT'
free version. After purchase free updates are available.