Protect your computer

Your computer is an inanimate object that can’t be permanently damaged by any known virus.

What you’re protecting is your stuff on that computer — documents, pictures, music, etc. You are also protecting your time — the time it would take to set your computer back up just the way you like it in a worst-case scenario that you lose everything. A regular backup schedule is really the best insurance against infections and any other problem with your system. Only about 10 percent of infected systems we see on a daily basis have been backed up recently, if ever.

Backing up no longer means an overnight procedure and special equipment. Just about every system sold today includes a DVD burner and a simple application for using it. Thumb drives now hold huge amounts of data, are inexpensive and can be carried in your pocket. Yet, we still regularly see authors lose every article, story or novel they’ve ever written, and a business that lost years of accounting data days before an audit.

The first thing today’s viruses will do is disable your antivirus software so that it can then do as it will. If your antivirus software suddenly stops working (you can’t open or run it), you are probably infected. As a result, antivirus software has been “fortified” — locked down to prevent malicious changes to settings, and it may even take special procedures to uninstall or upgrade it.

No antivirus application is perfect, nor can anything protect you from everything. Free antivirus solutions may not contain all of the security features of the pay-for versions. No matter what type you use, it is most important to keep your antivirus software up to date, not only by downloading the latest virus definitions, but by replacing it with the latest version each year. No, they’re not just trying to get another $49 out of you on an annual basis; these programs really are providing additional protection and tools in response to new and different types of crud that are being released on a daily basis. Set your antivirus software to install updates automatically and remember to renew well before the expiration date.

With Windows operating system updates, make sure your Windows Critical Updates are current at all times. Again, set them for automatic download and installation. Microsoft actually released patches for many of the major threats released in the last year before they became epidemic.

A firewall between your incoming connection and system or network is a good idea. When properly configured, a router acts as a hardware firewall. If running the latest Windows operating system, make sure the “personal firewall” is activated. Other software firewalls can be helpful if they are configured properly and you have a knowledgeable individual assisting you. Operation of a software firewall by a novice can be at best annoying, and at worst useless.

And here’s a tip: If your computer becomes infected and your antivirus software does not solve the problem, keep in mind that many infections become worse the more you use or restart the computer. Don’t wait too long before seeking help.

Quentin Algood is owner of ITS Alaska and secretary of the Greater Wasilla Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors.