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Information Technology notes July 2007

How safe is your Data?

Many farm businesses are using a PC to collect, manage and store important information and it’s increasingly difficult to protect your data from the dangers posed by attacks from computer viruses, Spyware and hackers. There are a many products available which help protect your data but it is important to employ good file management and PC operations to minimize your exposure to potential attack.

Viruses

These malicious programs can infect your system through a variety of ways, including opening email attachments, clicking on spam (electronic junk mail) or by visiting corrupt websites.
Today’s best anti-virus software come with multiple virus scans, allowing you to schedule scans in advance and even real-time scanning, which scan your computer every few minutes for viruses—stopping them before they can do damage.
As new viruses are being created everyday, the most effective anti-virus programs offer convenient virus updates. Some software offers automatic updates, which regularly check with the manufacturer’s web site for information on new viruses, providing the highest-level of protection at all times.

What to look for in Anti-Virus Software

Anti-virus software should be suitable for a computer novice to use and install. The software should effectively seek out and identify virus threats, and clean or isolate infected files. There should be simple reports available for each scan and plenty of support available to keep you well informed of the software’s activities and capabilities.
No matter how serious a computer virus is or how quickly it is spread, with today’s anti-virus software you’ll always have a cure.

Spyware/Adware/Malware

Every time you go online tracking software can be installed on your computer without your knowledge. These devices are often referred to as Spyware, Adware or Malware. Such software can be used to track your Internet behavior or can be employed for more threatening activities like recording your keystrokes to obtain passwords or pulling information from your personal files. What can you do to avoid Spyware?
  • Install a powerful anti-Spyware program that works well with your operating system (Vista has Windows Defender already included!). Download Defender at www.microsoft.com.
  • Avoid downloading free software without investigating the site’s privacy policy.
  • Do not open emails from unknown sources. Never give your banking details or passwords your bank as they will never request these details by email. These are fake emails and are known  “phishing attacks”.

What makes a great Anti-Spyware solution?

Below are the areas to consider when selecting a program to protect your system and personal information from Spyware, Adware and Malware.
  • Does the anti-Spyware include tools to enhance the ease of Spyware detection and removal? Does the software offer descriptions of detected Spyware so you can determine whether or not you want to keep each item? Are there auto-update and auto-scheduling capabilities available to save you time and keep you up-to-date and protected? Are there "undo" capabilities in case you accidentally delete something you actually need?
  • Does the product provide real-time protection from Spyware, preventing  installation ? Is the product effective at finding and removing the many different types of Spyware and adware? Does the manufacturer keep their product up-to-date with new Spyware definitions?

What do I Buy?

There are many companies providing data protection software. The important point is to get something; a little protection is better than none.  Some software packages are available free of charge for example, AVG Free (http://free.grisoft.com[external site]) or Ad-Aware (www.lavasoft.com). Be aware that free software will have license restrictions and generally reduced functionality with little or no level of additional software support, but is a great option for anyone with a little IT knowledge.
Other companies such as Symantec (www.symantec.com[external site]) or McAfee (www.mcafee.com[external site]) provide a complete software solution in a single program. These packages must be purchased and require an annual subscription to ensure updates.
They may also include a personal firewall, an additional piece of software, which can aid security.  I will discuss this next month in addition to setting up and using a home network.