For those of us who have had a computer virus or spyware appear on their computer out of nowhere, you know that it is not one of the most pleasant experiences. Well, if it makes you feel any better - it happens to the best of us. Some of the symptoms you will see if your computer has been infected are:
Your computer slows down to a crawl
Your computer acts like it is possessed - it starts sending out hundreds of emails on its own to people you do not know
You get a call from your IP provider that your computer is spamming the internet.
You are getting hundreds of popup ads appearing on your screen for no reason
Your computer crashes
Files are missing from your computer - and you can't blame your spouse, your kids or your dog
Your computer is running just great until someone sends you an email attachment that you open and now your computer is acting crazy
Electronic mail (e-mail) is the principal way of exchanging information across the Internet and within networks. You can think of your system's e-mail functionality as being provided by mail servers (IP providers) and mail clients (your computer). When a mail server delivers the mail that you compose or forward on, it also stores the mail in your account until you collect it. A mail client is associated with a particular user. It enables the user to work with mail - for example, by sending, retrieving, and composing messages, and by reading received mail.
There are several hazards inherent in the use of e-mail:
denial-of-service attacks
illegitimate access to the mail server
message interception
spreading malicious code
Most malicious code that infects computers and networks does so through the medium of e-mail. In order to help safeguard your computer from the hazards of e-mail, you should follow best practice at all times, especially when it concerns:
attachments
suspect subject lines
being alert for viruses
mail-client configuration
The first place to start is with Anti-Virus Software. Avoid using any anti-virus software that is free from a web site you are not familiar with. Just because it is free, does not mean it is good for you or your computer. One important option you want from your anti-virus software is the automatic update feature. Each time you start your computer, it will automatically check to see if there has been an update to your anti-virus software and will it will perform the update. If you are running your computer with an anti-virus software that does not update, your computer will not be protected against the latest viruses. Some of the more common anti-virus software include Norton, McAfee, Computer Associates, Kaspersky and Bit Defender. Most Anti-Virus Software will have annual fees.
When you have an Anti-Virus software installed on your computer, scanning may begin at any time, when something triggers it from your computer. Each approach has its own benefits and drawbacks. It is generally best to read your anti-virus software documentation to decide which security setting is best for you. If you are not sure which one to use, most times the default setting will be acceptable, or you may wish to have an authorized computer repair person setup your Anti-Virus Software.
One of the security decisions you need to make is to decide whether to permit e-mail attachments. Prohibiting them can greatly improve the security of your computer. If you do not prohibit email attachments, you should at least delete any emails with attached files - especially if you do not know the sender. You also should also avoid opening any email with an attached file that is quite large.
Popup Windows
Popup windows can be both useful and an annoyance. On most desktop computers there are usually at least one and in many cases multiple popup blockers running simultaneously. Built into your Internet Explorer, Firefox or Safari browser is a popup blocker. You can turn it on or off, or even allow temporary access to view a single website's popup window. To enable or disable the popup blocker, you will find it in your browser's top tool bar. The popup blocker is found under the "Tools" menu with Internet Explorer, where you can change the settings. With Firefox, you can turn on the popup blocker in the Tools > Options > Content tab. It is best practice to have your popup blocker on and if you want to view a website's popup window, you can list the URL of that website as a trusted site. You will also find if you are running a Google, Yahoo or MSN toolbar, there are additional popup blockers running under each of those toolbars.
Spyware
In addition to running an Anti-Virus software on your computer it is highly recommended to run Anti-Spyware software in addition. Many anti-virus bundles today also include anti-spyware. More computers today are infected from Spyware than viruses and anyone who has had this experience knows what a nightmare it can be. If you suspect your computer already has a virus or you have spyware running on your system, it is highly recommended to take the computer to a reputable computer repair person. In most cases installing Anti-Virus and Anti-Spyware software after your computer has been infected, will do little to correct the problem.
If you are looking for more technical information regarding the dreaded Computer Virus or Spyware and about their removal, should look at A+ books or CD-ROMs which are available online or at a local bookstore.
