AntiVirus Software: Why So Many Still Don't Get
It!
Written by Matthew Ferrara
07/28/01
In 1986, there was one known computer
virus. By 1989 there were six. In 1990, there were eighty. Today, there
are more than fifty thousand known viruses ready and spreading to
attack computer users world wide.
Yesterday I got twelve messages with
the Sircam
virus attached. Last week I got six copies of the Snow
White virus; of course, I get at least six or more weekly of that
one. And at least once or twice a month, I get a new variant of the
venerable Kak
worm which has only been around since 1999.
Of course, none of these viruses actually
harm my computer. Not because of some magic or something special from my
internet service provider. They do not harm me - or anyone else in my
address book - because, I get it.
When it comes to viruses, cyberspace
is divided into two groups: Those of us who get it, and those who
don't.
Those of us who get it perform the
Herculean feat of purchasing, installing and updating anti-virus
software. This seemingly mystical activity involves the purchase of a
commercial-quality program such as
Norton Antivirus for the whopping investment of $40. Then, we
actually install it and turn on the remarkable feature known as
"auto protect" which scans every incoming and outgoing
message or file we transmit for any of the fifty-thousand-plus
viruses in its library.
Of course, since new viruses are created
almost daily, Norton has a feature called "Live Update" which regularly
checks when you go online for updated inoculations. The history of
this feature is humorous: it used to pop-up and remind users to check
for updated virus inoculations, but since most users clicked
"cancel" (these are the ones who don't get it) the
engineers at Symantec actually made the feature automatic in
their new version. Now users get the latest antivirus definitions
whether they like it or not. Thankfully.
Those of us who get it know that viruses
do not just affect our computer but have the capability of spreading
themselves to everyone in our address books at the
near-speed-of-light. One false move on our part and the virus can spread
to hundreds if not thousands of other users who considered us their
friends. This is the most pernicious aspect of modern virus warfare:
we not only become infected but become transmitters of the harmful code
ourselves. Imagine the thought in the mind of your client when the
last thing they clicked before their computer crashes was an email with
your name on it. Nice!
Those of us who get it also know that the
most effective method for stopping viruses before they start is to
pay attention. Rarely are we the first people to get a virus before
it becomes headline news; radio, television and online web site media
companies almost instantly alert cyberspace of the latest attacks. Anyone
who pays even the remotest attention to what they are doing online should
be aware of the dangers of the day and take ample precautions.
Of course, paying attention is even
simpler than watching the news for warnings. It involves thinking
about a message that comes in with the subject line like "Ha Ha
Ha" or an attachment named "Me_nude.AVI.pif" or
"sexy virgin.scr." When such a message arrives, one
must think: Do I really want to look at this? Could it be related to a
virus? Do I know the sender? Was I expecting this file?
Stopping most common viruses can be
done without any fancy technology; it can be done with common sense.
Those of us who don't get it are the
real problem - not the bad guys who create these weird programs in
their basements. Sure, some viruses are hard to detect; they don't
arrive with readily warning attachments but execute their code
automatically or behind the scenes. Of course, the most common of such
viruses is the Kak worm which routinely infects Microsoft Word
documents, waiting for the unsuspecting user to open the file (which
they probably anticipated from the sender) without the use of antivirus
software. What is unbelievable is that Kak and other such viruses
have been around for years. Even the most basic computer user with the
cheapest or oldest antivirus software would have prevented these viruses
from unleashing their payloads. It's a kid's virus in comparison to
the Love Bug or Magistr viruses. In fact, it should be
embarrassing to get it or spread it - because it shows just how
little they are paying attention to the world of email.
Those of us who don't get it are just
winging it. They treat email like a novelty. They have found the
send button and can pretty much navigate the address book. When they
check their messages, which is often infrequently, they just click
through the list like a kid in a candy store, poking anything that looks
like a hyperlink or fantasy attachment without a care in cyberspace.
Since their computer came with the 'trial' version of antivirus software
which has long since expired and they never renewed, they have no idea
what's going on behind their magic screens. The funny thing is, they
took online security seriously when they did not purchase the full
version of the software online because they were afraid to type their
credit card information into the web. Yet they didn't make the
connection between the need to pay online for antivirus software and the
effect of their security-less journeys through email everyday.
Funny; it's just like the guy on the bus
who sneezes without covering his mouth with the handkerchief he did not
buy because he thought he didn't need it. Good thing I get a flu shot
each season.
So what's a guy or gal to do in
cyberspace when the group that does not get it remains larger than the
group that does? Here's a few ideas to help kill online bugs dead:
1. Protect yourself. Don't take
any chances or leave your internet security to someone else. Most
viruses that will harm your system will appear to be coming from someone
you know (that's how worms work). You will get a virus at the time
you least expect it or the one time you were rushing and thought you
could get away without checking just once. Don't leave your protection
to your network supervisor or ISP, either. Each individual computer
needs to be separately outfitted with its own, paid, updated version of
commercial-quality antivirus software.
2. Keep alert! Common sense will
save you more than fancy technology. Scrutinize each incoming
attachment. Verify that the sender expects you to read it by
asking them to confirm they sent it - before you open it. Take a pass on
that next sneak peak at Angelina Jolie in her undies. Make sure
you know who runs each newsletter, online mailing list or web site you
interact with.
3. Spread the word. Our best line
of defense is to take the offense. Reminding people each time you email
them about how they can help prevent virus attacks will help keep
everyone vigilant. For example, our company adds this line to the
bottom of our signature files:
________________________________________________
You can help stop internet viruses
from spreading!
Please make sure you are using ANTIVIRUS software and update it
frequently. For more information about protecting yourself and your
clients from viruses, please visit
www.mfseminars.com/av/av.htm today.
You can substitute
www.symantec.com/avcenter
if you like or any other site that monitors and can help protect against
viruses. Whatever you decide, start spreading the word each and
every time you send an email.
4. Print this article and hand it to
everyone in your office. Discuss it at your next office meeting.
Email it to a friend. Link it to your web site. Do whatever it takes to
help your fellow business partners to act now to understand and manage
their email experiences.
5. Take a tour of our online AntiVirus
center at www.mfseminars.com/av/av.htm
where you can learn
about viruses and how they work.
You can learn how to use
antivirus software and make sure you are updating
it often. There are even links to commercial sites like Norton Antivirus
and their email newsletters.
With more than 200 million online users
sending dozens of email every day, the number of online chances to get a
virus is astronomical. Yet with some economical software and
intellectual attention, stopping these threats can reduce the stress and
likelihood that someday, you too will receive the error:
Get it?
Matthew Ferrara
Seminars
www.mfseminars.com
