White Paper - Virus Prevention (PC & Mac)

Many people who get viruses wonder what they’ve done wrong, or more succinctly, how they’ve gotten a virus when their internet habits are 'safe.' In this document, you’ll find some basic guidelines to help you avoid the frustration and wasted time that often follows getting viruses on your computer.

First and foremost, always make sure you have a recent backup of your crucial data. There are a number of reasons that frequent (and tested) data backups are essential, but two stand out as worthy of further discussion. First, many viruses are almost impossible to fully eradicate without erasing and re-formatting a hard drive. Secondly, some viruses and malware are designed in such a way as to be extremely time-consuming and labor-intensive to fully remove. It is not uncommon for serious malware and virus infestations to take between four and six hours of a professional technician's time, which translates into roughly $500.00 of labor cost using industry-standard competitive rates. If your computer is overrun with malware and viruses, most of the time it is quicker and more cost-effective to reformat your hard drive and re-install your operating system. This means that you will lose all of your data that is not backed up.

While you might be able to back up your data before re-formatting, there is always the possibility that the virus will be backed up with your data and will just re-infect your computer once your data is restored. If you aren’t certain about how to back up your data or what backing up your data means, click here to read about backup and recovery best practices.

Now that we've established the importance of backups as a preventative measure, here's how to keep your equipment free from viruses, spyware, and malware.

Microsoft Windows Protection

1. Install an anti-virus program and keep your anti-virus subscription up to date. There are many anti-virus software options available for download over the web or purchase at your favorite software retailer. You can download and install one of the popular free programs, like AVG or Avast!, or you can purchase a subscription to Norton, McAfee or TrendMicro. Regardless of which software you choose, it is only as good as you allow it to be through your diligence in keeping it up to date and in running frequent scans.

Once you have your program of choice installed, make sure that you keep your subscription up to date so that you receive new virus definitions as they become available. Virus writers are constantly tweaking and updating their nefarious code, and you run the risk of infection if you don't keep your anti-virus software similarly updated.

2. Make sure that you are receiving and installing all Windows updates in addition to your anti-virus software updates. Almost all anti-virus programs will have an update option prominently displayed as soon as you open them up, and most will update virus definitions automatically. You can also set up Microsoft Windows to automatically download and install updates in your Control Panel, or you can find a link to Microsoft Windows Updates in your program list under the Start Menu.

3. Regularly run anti-virus scans on your computer. This is another feature that most anti-virus programs normally support. Some of them even do it by default. Check your settings and designate a time for the program to run regular full-system scans.

4. Never agree to download anything if you're unsure of its purpose or origin. The same can be said about trying to download or agreeing to any pop ups from websites that are of questionable reputation. Also, even if you are surfing on a website that you trust, make sure that you know what you are agreeing to before you click 'Yes' or 'Ok.' In addition, many virus writers have begun camouflaging their malware to resemble Microsoft Windows system pop-ups. If you're not sure whether or not you should click on a button, err on the side of caution. You can also call our 24-hour help desk and we'll walk you through determining which messages you can trust.

5. Do not use P2P (peer-to-peer) networks to download pirated materials. Almost everyone who uses programs like LimeWire or BitTorrent clients like Azureus has at one time or another gotten viruses as a result. Virus and malware writers routinely upload viruses onto P2P networks, disguised as the newest games, albums, and movies. This same logic applies to pornography and pornographic websites.

6. Never open attachments or respond to e-mails whose origin is unknown to you. Viruses routinely transmit themselves through e-mail attachments. If you get a suspicious e-mail from a friend, ask them if they sent it before opening it up. A virus might have accessed their address book and sent out a mass e-mail with a corrupting attachment to all of the people listed in the address book.

Additionally, if someone ever asks if you've sent out an e-mail that you did not, you should immediately run a virus scan on your computer.

Finally, remember that reputable companies will never ask you for your passwords or account numbers via e-mail. This is a common form of social engineering used by identity thieves, spam merchants, and other cyber-criminals.

Macintosh Protection

If you are a Mac user, you might think that all of this does not apply to you. However, there is a growing trend of virus writers targeting Mac users, which will likely escalate as Apple gains more market share in the home computer space. If you use a Mac, you have a safer, more secure operating system by default, but you should still exercise caution and follow a few simple guidelines to ensure virus- and malware-free computing.

1. Always keep your operating system up to date. Click Apple menu and select Software Updates to update your system. As long as you are regularly updating your operating system, you will regularly be closing security holes that Apple finds and patches.

2. Never agree to download anything if you don’t know what it is. (See number 4 above.) This also applies for entering in your password when the system asks for it. Most viruses for Macs will require you to enter your administrative password before they are installed. If you aren’t certain why the system needs your administrative password, do not provide it.

3. Do not download pirated materials. (See number 5 above.) A recent Mac-specific virus was included in a pirated copy of iWork that users downloaded from P2P networks. If the virus is attached to an installer or a .dmg file that you download, installing the application also installs the virus.

4. Never open email attachments that you are not sure about or respond to suspicious e-mails. (See number 6 above.) Another type of virus that has been known to infect Macs is the Microsoft Office virus. Most of its variants are spread through e-mail attachments that infect your Microsoft Office for Mac installation when you open them up.

To summarize, most viruses and malware can be prevented by exercising caution and common sense. If you are unsure as the origin of a file download, a pop-up window, or an e-mail, simply ignore it rather than clicking through and 'seeing what happens.' Similarly, avoid sites that offer pirated material and illegal downloads, as you run the risk of installing additional software onto your system in addition to the free materials you were seeking. If you keep your operating system and anti-virus software up to date and follow these simple rules, you'll likely avoid the hassle and expense that comes with virus and malware infection.

Questions? Call 678.783.0138 or visit our help desk for more assistance.

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