Computer Security
It appears that the average computer user doesn’t have a clue as to how to secure their machines.
Surprise!!!!! Most people who know about computers occasionally have difficulty keeping their machines free of Spyware/Adware/Malware and Viri. I cannot imagine most of the computer laypeople I know being able to do it. All I’ve been able to do is recommend products to handle Viri for them, but maintaining a clean computer still takes effort, and most computer users are clueless how to even start. Unfortunately they are the ones who are out there on the net serving as Viral launching points. I know people who know they have all the symptoms of a Virus, but just haven’t gotten around to fixing the problem. In computer terms this is as irresponsible as going to work when you have the flu (everyone else gets it too). The average user doesn’t know that they have to check periodically and make sure that the Spyware and Anti Virus products they are using (if they are using any at all) are updating correctly, and that changes you make in your system (email settings etc) can disable functionality of the scanner.
Another thing people do not realize is that most Anti Virus scanners do not generally scan for Spyware (this is starting to change). The companies that make spyware had claimed that their software was legal, was installed with consent, and it would be doing harm to their company if an Anti Virus scanner identified it on users machines as Spyware. So the Anti Virus companies (to prevent legal exposure) chose to make their scanners ignore much of the software that is Adware/Spyware and even software that is widely recognized to be Trojan Horse remote control software. So, if you were wondering, that is why you need to install Anti Virus and Anti Spyware software. (The latest PC-Cillin does both, but still doesn’t seem to be nearly as effective at catching Spyware as AdAware Pro, so I still run both).
It’s scary that companies are allowing people to use home computers to VPN into their corporate networks. After the infestations I’ve seen recently, I’m actually thinking of making it policy that I will not plug anyone’s computer into my LAN without a virus scan first.
My personal preference for anti-virus products is for PC-Cillin Internet Security or Panda Internet Security. The PC-Cillin seems to come free with every computer motherboard you buy, so if you built your own, you might already own AV software. I’ve not tried Symantec (Norton) and McAfee Anti-virus products in a couple of years, but over time I’ve found them to be slow, and to cause numerous system problems. I have a running theory that the PC Magazines that review always pick either Symantec or McAfee depending on which spent the most advertising dollars that year.
All that said and done… here are some links to help everyone out… :)
Spyware/Adware/Malware removal:
AdAware – One of my personal favorites
Spybot Search and Destroy – Another excellent scanning product
Free Online Spyware/Adware/Malware scanner:
www.pestscan.com (untested, requires internet explorer)
Free Online Virus Scan (both reputable companies that make good products):
housecall.trendmicro.com
www.pandasoftware.com
Here is a recent PC World review of AV scanners: