Updates aim to defuse Bagle ploy

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Cat vs. Mouse

Good to see the anti-virus companies respond quickly to this.

Secure Computing Practices for Windows 9x, XP, 2000, 2003


If you are a Windows user (actually a user of ANY OS), and you implement these six measures, no known virus would have ever caused you a problem.

1. Make regular backups. I find it best to use a strategy that allows incremental backups of data, and do periodic system images so that I can recover more easily from a disk crash or other system failure.

2. Keep your system up to date with the latest patches. For a home use, this is really a very simple procedure that?s not anywhere near the headache that some make it out to be. You can have Windows automatically do system updating for you, but I lick to do it myself. Once a week, just go to windowsupdate.com. Most weeks, (yes it?s true!) there aren?t any updates. When a critical patch comes out, install it immediately. And if you have a problem, well, you?ve got your backup, right? Since Windows XP, I?ve never had a problem with patching, though you mileage may very. The bottom line is that for home users, patching for a serious flaw immediately is always the right thing to do. You can always recover from a backup (if you?re doing them right).

3. Do not open email attachments from unknown sources. PERIOD! If you do not know how sent it and why, it?s not important. To the trash it goes. It?s nice to see the anti-virus vendors respond with the new encryption scanning, but even so, just junk attachments from the unknown.

4. Use a virus scanner that is up to date. Scan ALL sources of input to your system, not matter the source, even commercially packaged software, just in case.

5. Set up a firewall wall, especially if you have broadband. Allow only traffic that you need.

6. Turn off unnecessary background services and programs. That includes spyware that you may have inadvertently installed. This makes your system more secure, and more stable

These are steps that ANY user of ANY OS should follow, not just Windows, to maintain a clean system. They are easy to do for Windows, and they will not only keep you safe from attacks, but normal failures as well (if you do not backup your system, believe me, attacks are the least of your worries).

Practice safe computing!!!!!

Posted by: Heatlesssun   Posted on: 03/04/04 You are currently: a Guest | Members login | Terms of Use

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