What would happen to your business if your PC became unusable?
Web Technik don't normally provide computer support but we do understand how important your PCs are to your business and offer some guidance aimed at helping you keep safe.
Security software
Most new computers are sold with a "free trial" pre-loaded security package. After a while it becomes necessary to renew the license. Most users either pay up or decide not to bother. We have had bad experiences with some of that software being difficult to remove and conflicting with other programs. The best choice is a third option: buy the best software around!
In our opinion - and reviews in the professional computer press agree - that is
Kaspersky Internet Security you can download a free trial. The "best value" purchase is 5 licenses for 2 years which works out at only £12 per computer per year. For that you get daily updated protection from viruses, spyware, spam etc. You shouldn't need any other security products.
Good practise
Even the best security software cannot respond to a new threat immediately, it's hard work keeping up with the virus writers. Some basic rules will help...
- Do not use unlicensed software.
- Do not be tricked by junk emails into visiting websites or downloading software - including video codecs.
- If you receive an out of character email from a known contact it could mean their computer security has been breached, do not click on any links in that message.
- Do not use internet file sharing programs - 30% of files available through Limewire were found to have malicious content.
- Do not go to websites "recommended" in unsolicited email, that's where you get a "drive by" infection.
- Do not connect your computer to the internet without security software installed and running. That should include a firewall. Unprotected computers can get identified and attacked within a few minutes.
- If you run a wireless network, ensure it is running WPA security (not WEP). It will not be enabled by default and without security passers-by with a wireless laptop can potentially access your confidential files, use your internet connection to download... who knows what and incriminate you. (Hint: why not use a wired network instead, cheap, faster, less prone to interference and more secure).
- Do use the best security suite with daily updated protection from viruses, spyware, spam etc.Kaspersky Internet Security
- Do take regular backups - and test that they are readable.
Junk mail
No junk mail filter is 100% effective. You need to remain vigilant. The spammers keep thinking up new ideas. A recent approach was to send mailings listing the top new stories on CNN. The email looked legitimate and most of the links were to current news stories on the CNN web site. Just one or two of the links had startling headlines intended to grab your interest and the links were to web sites which would attempt to attack your computer.
Spam filters either let some junk mail through or block some legitimate mail. We find the best combination is to only use filtering systems to block the most obvious spam then preview messages with a product called Mailwasher. A free trial version is available.
Chain letters
However well intentioned these may appear never forward any email that includes wording like "forward this to all your email contacts". Most of these are hoaxes and most of the remainder are just ill-advised waste of everyone's time. The snopes web site has a massive collection of hoax emails and urban myths and a good place to check any chain letter you are tempted to forward.