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January 15, 2002
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Site SchemesVirtual Assistant Update |
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| Other Issues |
© 2002 Site Schemes
| Safeguard
Your Computer
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Viruses, worms and Trojans have become more than a nuisance over the last few months. A little knowledge goes a long way to protecting your computer and valuable data. While computers may never be as dependable as Old Faithful, here are some tips to help you practice safe computing. Buy and install a reputable anti-virus program. I use Symantec's Norton Anti-Virus. There are others that are good and you can find free ones on the Internet. (Search your favorite search engine for “anti-virus” and “free”.) Make sure you install a program that provides up-to-date virus definitions. If you need help installing your software, call me. Update the virus definitions for the program no less than once a week. I purchased a subscription that automatically updates my virus definitions with the latest release as soon as I log onto the Internet. The best anti-virus program will not work without current virus definitions. Symantec releases updates once a week. Updates for highly threatening new viruses are released immediately. |
It takes only a few minutes to download the virus definition updates, and they install themselves. Use your anti-virus program to scan your email as it arrives from your Internet Service Provider (ISP). Some of the newer viruses threaten your computer hardware, software, and data without having to open an attachment. Allowing the anti-virus program to scan the mail as it arrives can save you time and money and a lot of headaches. Never open attachments you were not expecting or from people you do not know. Delete them immediately. If you spend a lot of time connected to the Internet consider installing a firewall — even if you connect with a modem. Personal firewall protection can help prevent people who scan open ports (doorways in and out of your computer) looking for a computer where they can place programs that allow them to steal information about you or use your computer for other purposes. This does happen — generally to people who never know it’s happening. (continued on page 2) |
| Bits
& Bytes |
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| The Computer Emergency Response Team Coordination Center reported that the number of viruses and other types of attacks making rounds on the Internet and the number of security vulnerabilities discovered in software “rocketed from 21,756 reported in 2000 to 52,658 reported in 2001.” (Developer News, internet.com) |
Wisecat.com ranks the top 50 search engines on the web.
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| Next month . . . How to rank high with search engines |
About Site Schemes’ Virtual Assistant UpdateSite Schemes brings you this newsletter to help you learn new ways to use your computer and the Internet, to get organized, to use the Web for research, to market your products and services, and to acquaint you with Site Schemes' services. --Next Page-- |