| Trends and industry analysts state that the | | | | you should have an updated anti-virus software |
| efforts of the propagators will not relent. Last | | | | running on your system. Make sure to choose |
| year marked the first ever mobile phone virus | | | | one of the better ones on the market today - a |
| and Bluetooth technology, for example, | | | | few dollars wont break you but a virus will. Make |
| compounds the threats to security. 35% of PCs | | | | sure that the anti-virus software is updated |
| in the US are infected while in China and India the | | | | frequently (sometimes even daily if needs be) |
| rates hit 50%.Experts in the field of security | | | | with fixes to the actual engine and to the |
| report the first virus was spread as early as 1981. | | | | database files that contain the latest cures against |
| Fred Cohen, however, wrote in his seminal paper | | | | new viruses, worms and Trojans. The anti-virus |
| that the first virus was conceived as an | | | | software must have the ability of scanning email |
| experiment on November 3rd, 1983. Since then | | | | and files as they are downloaded from the |
| viruses and malware have plagued and wreaked | | | | Internet to help prevent malware reaching your |
| havoc among computer systems worldwide.Risks | | | | system.Many users are using a third component |
| through the Internet | | | | for their home and/or computer system security |
| With the advent of such communications | | | | - This website is a free resource library containing |
| advances like the Internet, mobile telephony and | | | | a comprehensive description of over 3000 that |
| Bluetooth (a short range radio technology that | | | | may be running on your computer. Searching for |
| simplifies wireless communication among devices | | | | the processes is similar to using a search engine - |
| such as computers and mobiles. It also aims at | | | | type in the process name and returns the full |
| quickly and easily connect these devices to the | | | | description including information on security threat |
| Internet) computer viruses have spread at an | | | | levels if any and ways on removing the malicious |
| alarming rate. The downside to such advances is | | | | code.You should also consider installing firewall |
| that where before only a few computers would | | | | software. A good system prevents unauthorised |
| get infected, now thousands, if not millions, are at | | | | use and access to your computer from external |
| the mercy of virus authors.Early Threats Disables | | | | sources (e.g. hackers or hijackers) plus giving you |
| 10% of Computers Infected | | | | additional protection against the more common |
| In 1987 a large network (ARPANET) used by | | | | Trojans and worms. A firewall on its own will not |
| universities and the US government was infected | | | | get rid of the virus problem but when used in |
| by a virus. Robert Morris, son of a computer | | | | conjunction with your OS updates, anti-virus |
| security expert for the National Security Agency, | | | | software and information, it will give you deeper |
| sent malicious code through ARPANET, affecting | | | | system security and protection.A fourth |
| about 10% of the connected computer hosts - at | | | | component for security is and the Windows Task |
| the time there were only 60,000 hosts connected | | | | Manager. is a free website gives you information |
| to the network. The code reproduced itself and | | | | on any and all of the processes that you may be |
| filtered through network computers; consequently, | | | | running at the moment. With this information you |
| the size of the files filled computers' memories, | | | | can immediately identify any possible new threats |
| thus disabling numerous machines.An alarming | | | | that may have infiltrated into your system. |
| 66% of PCs today are Infected by Spyware and | | | | definitions will help you cover that window of time |
| 35% are infected by viruses in the US.Today, an | | | | until your preferred anti-virus and anti-spyware |
| estimated 1.21 billion people (Computer Industry | | | | software vendors update their scanners. Hit |
| Almanac) are connected to the Internet with | | | | CTRL+ALT+DEL to call up the Windows Task |
| millions of computer hosts connected chatting, | | | | Manager to help you identify most of the |
| exchange files, emails and communicating in | | | | processes running on your computer. When |
| general. Can you imagine how easy it is to spread | | | | identified just search the process within the |
| a virus or malware?One anti-spyware developer, | | | | database and you'll have an exact definition and |
| reports that the infection rate of malicious | | | | advice on what to do.Fighting Spyware, Adware |
| spyware at companies is approximately at 7% | | | | and Other Forms of Malware |
| and adware appears on an incredible 52% of | | | | In some cases, it is not that easy to realise that |
| machines. 3 to 5% of enterprise machines had | | | | spyware and related forms of malware are |
| keyloggers. At homes, the percentages are much | | | | installed on your system.In other cases, you will |
| higher. The same anti-spyware developer reports | | | | almost immediately notice changes to your web |
| that 66% of the PCs scanned by its online tool | | | | browser that you didn't make. These changes |
| were found to be infected with an average of 25 | | | | include toolbars that you didn't want installed, |
| spyware entities each. If one were to define | | | | different homepage settings or changes to your |
| cookies as spyware than the rate will shoot up to | | | | security settings and favourites list.Other signs of |
| 88%! Adware was found on 64% of the | | | | spyware include advert pop-ups which are not |
| machines. Viruses and Trojans, reports the | | | | related to the website being viewed at the time. |
| company, were found on 7% and 19% of the | | | | Many such adverts usually relate to pornography |
| machines respectively.According to Panda | | | | or emoticons or performance/security optimizers |
| Software, over 50% of PCs in India and China, | | | | and are not displayed as they are usually shown |
| for example are infected with a virus. In the US | | | | on legitimate adverts. Adverts may also appear |
| and the UK, the rate is 35%. All in all, this means | | | | when you are not surfing the web. Spyware is |
| that many people still remain without active | | | | not only annoying but it slows your system |
| protection today.Anti-virus is not enough? | | | | performance, causes start-up time to increase, |
| In a study performed by security firm | | | | hogs your Internet connection and on occasion will |
| Checkbridge, the company ran 2 million email | | | | lead to system crashes.You should install an |
| messages through three famous email scanners. | | | | anti-spyware software package. There are some |
| None of the programs tested caught all the | | | | good ones on the market and many experts go |
| viruses. The success rates of the scanners varied | | | | as far as suggesting installing two or three since |
| from 97% to 64%. The CEO of Checkbridge also | | | | any single package may not be powerful enough |
| states that in many cases using two scanners at | | | | to find all the entries and changes to your registry |
| the same time does not guarantee pinpointing all | | | | and other files made by spyware. Such malware |
| the viruses all of the time. Similarly, many | | | | is installed like any other application on your |
| computer experts report that using two or three | | | | system thus leaving traces of itself on the |
| anti-spyware programs usually manages to delete | | | | registry files of and other places with your |
| 95%+ of spyware.The Pillars of Security | | | | system. Anti-spyware works by looking for these |
| How can you protect your system and your | | | | traces and deleting them.Also beware of what |
| data in the midst of so many threats to security | | | | you download from the Internet. Make sure that |
| coming from so many different sources?Just | | | | the sources that you download stuff from are |
| think, malware (malicious code) has been around | | | | know to you - and even here you have to pay |
| for almost 25 years already. Every year, millions | | | | extreme attention. For example, not all companies |
| of people and businesses lose substantial sums of | | | | who claim their software contains adware are |
| money in terms of lost and, many times, | | | | really offering adware only! There's always the |
| irrecoverable data. To top it all, some viruses hog | | | | possibility that there is spyware disguised in the |
| system resources and Internet connections | | | | program. Make sure that you read privacy policies |
| making it impossible to work or play. And this | | | | and licence agreements. Also firewalls should help |
| does not include the frustration and anger at not | | | | you greatly in the fight against spyware and |
| being able to pinpoint the source of the | | | | malware.Kevin James Vella is the Public Relations |
| problem.One of the very first steps to protecting | | | | Manager of Uniblue Systems Ltd, a global |
| your PC is to make sure that the operating | | | | software developer. Kevin's passion for writing |
| system (OS) is updated. This is critical as OS | | | | and ICT has seen him publishing several articles on |
| manufacturers such as Microsoft Windows update | | | | personal technology, software, electronic |
| security features of their products continuously to | | | | commerce and online marketing. |
| cover any potential and actual loopholes.Secondly | | | | |