Bay of Isles Computers Support and Technical Tips

Bay of Isles Computers

63B Dempster Street
Esperance WA 6450

Ph: 08 9071 5542
Fax: 08 9071 5549

boic@boic.net.au

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Antivirus Tips

(From the APC Mag.)

Safeguarding a computer from viruses, worms and Trojans should be the first priority when it comes to protecting data from attack. As virus codes and their writers are getting smarter and more malicious, simply installing a virus scanner isn't enough.

With every new version of an antivirus program, vendors completely overhaul the way antivirus software looks for viruses. Not realising this, many people only update the signatures (DAT files) rather than the whole product. By downloading the latest scanning engine and setting the software to automatically update itself as often as possible, the product is being used to its full potential.

Most viruses and worms masquerade as "security patches" or updates that are transmitted via email. If you receive an update or a patch via email, delete it and download the software directly from the vendor's Web site.

In addition to software patches, viruses may masquerade as Word documents. Be on the lookout for file attachments with the tags ".doc.pif" or ".doc.scr". These are not Word documents at all, but rather scripts that can contain viruses or worms.

As always, if you don't know and trust the sender of an email, don't open any attached files. It's best to err on the side of caution and delete the email immediately.

Malware Detection Tips

Adware can be defined as software which records a user's Web browsing habits in order to target them with advertising based on their interests. Spyware records information about a user and sends it to a third party without their consent. Such information can range from personal information such as a name and address to the information entered into online forms.

The malware detection marketplace is still in its infancy. Consequently, there is very little credible informataion about what certain types of spyware or adware programs actually do. While spyware can be run in a controlled environment, a copy of the source code really needs to be obtained to see how the program works.

Most spyware and adware finds its way onto computers when people install software without reading the terms and conditions. For example, many P2P (person to person) programs contain third party software, spyware or adware. However, some offer "ad free" versions for a fee.

The second most popular way that adware and spyware can sneak onto a computer is via a "drive-by download". This occurs when Web sites attempt to exploit weak Web browser security settings and load a program onto a computer without its owner's knowledge. The default settings in the latest version of Internet Explorer prevent this from happening. However, some spyware or adware (already installed on a system) can modify these settings.

In order to combat spyware and adware you need malware detection software that remains in memory, just like a virus scanner. Alternatively, manually run the malware detection programs and scan the entire PC.

There are a number of ways to minimise the amount of malware that gets onto a computer:

Watch for pop-up boxes and Active-X controls. Don't download anything unless you know exactly what it does.
Download the latest version of Internet Explorer. If you can't update, set your security settings to "medium".
If you need to download a plug-in (such as Macromedia Flash), visit the vendor's Web site and download it from there. Even Web sites that you trust may use third-party banner advertising which can display pop-up boxes on your computer.
Avoid downloading "ad-supported" or "free" software. The software is only "free" because a company has paid for associated advertising.
Watch out for toolbars. Toolbars that integrate with Internet Explorer are usually installed as BHOs (browser helper objects) and are in a unique position to record your Web browsing habits.
Take the time to read the EULA (End User Licence Agreement). If the vendor mentions that third party software is bundled, consider another product.
Use multiple malware detection software on your PC. There isn't a lot of sharing of information between vendors, so it's best to have all bases covered.