The Weak Link

One of the most common questions we get in the shop is how a computer gets infected. It is simple enough but not always because someone is visiting bad sites or doing questionable things with thier computer. The big no no is porn and not so often it is NOT the culprit.

The truth is that good people get hooked into situations that get thier computer hacked, stolen, hijacked, slowed down – pick one. It happens at one time or another to all of us. There are rare occasions these days that the alarms and whistles go off and I have to remember to follow the rules.

Microsoft released their version of Antivirus software this month. I have been testing it on the home unit to see how it works. The install went well and it was simple enough. It is pretty slender in that it does not bog down the system and remains very much in the back ground. Later I will actually launch an attack and see how it handles it. Right now though it is doing one thing I like and that is to protect quietly and not be a pain in the tail.

Time will tell how the software works. It seems good so far. Microsoft seems willing to offer it for free while saying it is not competing with other software. The company says it is targeting people that normally do not install software for virus protection after the trials run out. There is no announcement that Microsoft will push the software by making it part of the new PC package. I think that would be a good idea but I am not in Microsoft’s loop.

Rules

The number one weak link in the virus process is the user. With user account control and other features built into the system it is harder and harder for malicious software to do damage by itself. Time was that all I had to do was get the software on the machine and tell it to run. Now I cannot do that. UAC requieres that for certain add-ins and stuff that the User has to approve the operation. Hence the operator has to say YES.

That is why you must pay attention to popups, email, download buttons and those kind of things. Most people just click and assume that it is what they think it is. Now the software lies to you making you think it is what you want. That makes it harder because partly the user has to be smarter and develope trust issues. If something asks to be installed, ran or allow access and you the user did not do something to start the request then the answer is always NO or CANCEL. ALWAYS.

Aunt Maybell may be on your friends list but that attachment she sends you may not be what you really want to see. I only open attachments from people I know and that usually I am expecting.

A Royal Pain

So when customers tell us how dumb they feel, how much they do not know – we listen. That is why on our card we give not only our phone numbers but our emai. If there is something that you want an answer to, write it in an email and we will let you know if we think something is safe or is not. If it is okay we will tell you. REMEMBER – we are the one that guarantee that your computer will not get infected. So if we say yes then we accept the risk with you and we will fix it. That may make the pain worthwhile and the little bit of time delay while you verify information with your technician.

User Account Control (UAC) is not any fun when it nags you about starting programs and we know this. In Windows 7 the UAC feature has been fine tuned to keep you safe and not nag you all the time.

Do not be afraid to say no, cancel or delete suspect files. If you need them then they are there. If you want them then there are safe ways to get them. Even if it means we have to teach Aunt Maybell about viruses and malware and spyware.