BE SAFE FROM VIRUSES, SPYWARE, AND WORMS. PREVENTION COSTS MUCH LESS THAN REPAIR

Feel like your computer is safe and secure? Same with your network - especially your wireless network? Well, the security experts advise you to think again, and to strongly consider professional intervention.

It may be that you installed the best possible virus protection. It may be that you purchased the most sophisticated Anti-Spyware. And it may be that you have used encryption techniques, in an attempt to make your wireless network/VPN secure.

Those are good first steps. But only first steps. Security experts say you can’t stop there – that if you don’t de-bug regularly, chances are you’re leaving yourself open to a wide variety of viruses, Spyware, and worms.

According to the experts, two things are occurring – both of which cause trouble for us. First, there are the sophisticated “hackers” (people who try to break the security codes to gain access to a computer or network), just for the fun of it. Many times, there are two or more “hackers” competing with one another to gain access to (and steal or destroy the data of) certain business sites. It’s as though there actually is a friendly competition, to see who can hack his way into the most unlikely computer or network, and subsequently do the most damage.

Alternatively, there are those whose viruses are not for fun, and instead are intended to spread themselves to as many computers as possible, to gather personal and financial information.

As an alternative to simply gaining entry by “hacking” their way in, some brilliant – but misguided – souls also will invent viruses, which infect and take over system programs and replicate themselves. Or more recently or and more insidiously, the have invented worms, which are independent programs that can infect a host computer and spread across a network instantly.

Second, there are those individuals or companies whose objective is to plant Spyware – electronic spies – on our computers, in order to read information about who we are and how we utilize our computers to search for information. This data is very valuable to those companies engaged in marketing products, and they willingly pay handsomely for this kind of information.

Firms such as Microsoft and Symantech have invented programs to help block, or to identify and destroy worms and viruses, and to prevent would-be intruders from being able to hack into our computers or networks. Unfortunately, as fast as they can invent these programs, the bad guys are inventing new and more devious viruses and worms. It is a constant battle to keep up with them!

Therefore, that single program you purchased way back when you bought your computer is likely to be out of date and not much help at this point. In reality, the best form of protection is to buy all the top anti-Spyware programs (each searches for something a little different), keep you anti-virus software updated, and scan your computer and/or network on a weekly basis.

Conversely, if you have numerous computers on a local area network, chances are you’ll be better off setting up a service agreement with a company that specializes in security issues, and having them service your computers on a regular basis, using as many as five different programs. Such companies also can test for the degree of privacy your wireless network provides – which is usually amazingly little – and help you build a sonic wall - an encryption system that will protect your data.

The bottom line is that the world of computer-stored data is kind of like Wonderland. There are a number of strange characters, many of them not to be trusted, if your data has any value at all! Call Now - (925) 677-5009