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***Admin*** · 01-10-06, 11:00 PM

Serious Flaw In Windows Leaves Your Computer Open To Attack

Last week, I told you how I got a virus on my computer. I’m happy to say that my computer is now apparently virus free. I say apparently, because I have run several programs that spot viruses and spyware and have come up completely clean.

That doesn’t necessarily mean that my computer is virus free. It just means that the best software can’t find any. I ran my antivirus software in both the standard windows mode as well as the safe mode.

Sometimes viruses can hide themselves. For example, they attach themselves to your notepad or calculator and only emerge when you use one of these programs.

If you’ve been listening to the news this week (that is, the tech news), you are aware that there is a new threat to almost all computers using the internet. The experts say that the attack is very significant. Other experts say that it is not so bad. If you are using Antivirus Software, you should be fully protected. Microsoft is currently working on a patch that should be available next week.

You can read more about the cyber attack at:

http://news.com.com/Wait+for+Windows+pat ch+opens+attack+wind ow/2100-1002_3-6016747.html?tag=nl

According to cnn.com, the Microsoft patch to prevent this new type of cyber attack will be available on today (January 10th).

To read the cnn.com article go to:

http://www.cnn.com/2006/TECH/internet/01/04/microsoft.patch.reut/index.html

Should you worry about it? Well, maybe not so much.

1. Make sure you have the latest version of Windows. If you are using Windows XP, your computers should automatically be updated when a patch is available. If not, you should go to Start, Windows Update and make sure that your computer is current.

2. Make sure that your virus protection is up to date. If you are using virus protection older than 2005, it may not protect you from the latest threats.

3. Make sure that you have the latest virus definitions. Your virus software should do this automatically. As in “2.” above, if you are using virus software older than 2005, you need to upgrade your version. Having the latest virus definitions will not fully protect you if you are using an old version of virus software.

4. Turn on your firewall. Go to Start and Help. Search for the word Firewall. Windows will show you how to turn on your Firewall protection. Having an active Firewall prevents most mischievous hackers from getting into your computer. Your Firewall protection will not prevent hackers from entering your computer if you visit an infected web site. It will prevent most hackers from miscellaneously finding your computer and infecting it.

5. Don’t use the internet!!!

Why did I get a virus? In researching virus software online, I entered a search for “virus reviews” on google. I clicked on one interesting site, and I was infected. The virus that infected my computer wasn’t so bad. My virus software warned me of the virus. It just wasn’t able to clean it out. I used some alternative antivirus software that completely cleaned my computer.

Unfortunately, if you are using the internet, you will probably get a virus. You can get it when you read your emails, or when you go to a site you have never been to. It just happens. It’s very much like the flu. No matter how much you wash your hands, you will one day be infected. And if you don’t get the flu, it will be something else. If you don’t get a virus on your computer, it will be spyware. If not spyware, your hard drive will go. Best thing you can do is make sure that you make good backups every day.

Courtesy of PC America Newsletter. Thank you.

01-10-06, 11:00 PM	#1 (permalink)
*Admin* Think About It Joined: Sep 2003 Location: Los Angeles, CA Posts: 4,983	Serious Flaws In Windows Leave Your Computer Open to Attack Serious Flaw In Windows Leaves Your Computer Open To Attack Last week, I told you how I got a virus on my computer. I’m happy to say that my computer is now apparently virus free. I say apparently, because I have run several programs that spot viruses and spyware and have come up completely clean. That doesn’t necessarily mean that my computer is virus free. It just means that the best software can’t find any. I ran my antivirus software in both the standard windows mode as well as the safe mode. Sometimes viruses can hide themselves. For example, they attach themselves to your notepad or calculator and only emerge when you use one of these programs. If you’ve been listening to the news this week (that is, the tech news), you are aware that there is a new threat to almost all computers using the internet. The experts say that the attack is very significant. Other experts say that it is not so bad. If you are using Antivirus Software, you should be fully protected. Microsoft is currently working on a patch that should be available next week. You can read more about the cyber attack at: http://news.com.com/Wait+for+Windows+pat ch+opens+attack+wind ow/2100-1002_3-6016747.html?tag=nl According to cnn.com, the Microsoft patch to prevent this new type of cyber attack will be available on today (January 10th). To read the cnn.com article go to: http://www.cnn.com/2006/TECH/internet/01/04/microsoft.patch.reut/index.html Should you worry about it? Well, maybe not so much. 1. Make sure you have the latest version of Windows. If you are using Windows XP, your computers should automatically be updated when a patch is available. If not, you should go to Start, Windows Update and make sure that your computer is current. 2. Make sure that your virus protection is up to date. If you are using virus protection older than 2005, it may not protect you from the latest threats. 3. Make sure that you have the latest virus definitions. Your virus software should do this automatically. As in “2.” above, if you are using virus software older than 2005, you need to upgrade your version. Having the latest virus definitions will not fully protect you if you are using an old version of virus software. 4. Turn on your firewall. Go to Start and Help. Search for the word Firewall. Windows will show you how to turn on your Firewall protection. Having an active Firewall prevents most mischievous hackers from getting into your computer. Your Firewall protection will not prevent hackers from entering your computer if you visit an infected web site. It will prevent most hackers from miscellaneously finding your computer and infecting it. 5. Don’t use the internet!!! Why did I get a virus? In researching virus software online, I entered a search for “virus reviews” on google. I clicked on one interesting site, and I was infected. The virus that infected my computer wasn’t so bad. My virus software warned me of the virus. It just wasn’t able to clean it out. I used some alternative antivirus software that completely cleaned my computer. Unfortunately, if you are using the internet, you will probably get a virus. You can get it when you read your emails, or when you go to a site you have never been to. It just happens. It’s very much like the flu. No matter how much you wash your hands, you will one day be infected. And if you don’t get the flu, it will be something else. If you don’t get a virus on your computer, it will be spyware. If not spyware, your hard drive will go. Best thing you can do is make sure that you make good backups every day. Courtesy of PC America Newsletter. Thank you.