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How You Can Help Stop Internet Virus Attacks |
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Written by Paul Wilcox
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Tuesday, 17 June 2008 |
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By now most users are aware of the need to implement antivirus software on individual systems. But a large percentage of the hardware and software used to provide something for those users to use resides outside them. What are they and what can be done to protect them from virus attacks?
by PaulWilcox
By now most users are aware of the need to implement antivirus software on individual systems. But a large percentage of the hardware and software used to provide something for those users to use resides outside them. What are they and what can be done to protect them from virus attacks?
Computer viruses attack servers - web, file, ftp and e-mail, along with routers and other network gear - along with individual PC's.
Many of these servers are really not that different from a desktop PC. They may have more memory, multiple processors and larger hard drives, but they're still more or less the same type of equipment when you get right down to it.
Because of that fact, they're often vulnerable to the same viruses and other internet security threats that the average desktop system is. They also need to run antivirus software, firewalls and other forms of protection.
What Options Do They Have?
These servers can be servicing thousands of users at the same time in some cases so they're a popular target for the virus writers. As a user on these systems, you can help keep them virus-free by making sure your own computer is. And their system administrators can help by limiting what kinds of programs get installed on them.
Users can help administrators and themselves by being more careful in browser selection and configuration. Most could profit from better self-education in how to minimize the 'target area' for hackers by changing browser settings. Users and computer professionals have made strides in voicing concern over security vulnerabilities in Internet Explorer. Adopting other browsers in greater numbers will help to get the message across.
Avoid booting from or loading software from CD's, DVD's or other disks that haven't been scanned for viruses, if you're not sure of the source. If a single file on one of those disks contains a virus, it can spread like wildfire.
FTP servers, used to store and provide sending and receiving of files over networks, should become a thing of the past. Vanilla ftp (File Transfer Protocol) can't be secured since passwords are passed in clear text (unencrypted) over the network where they can be picked up by sniffers. Sniffers are software and/or hardware used to spy on networks. Secure FTP versions should be used instead.
Users should take an active role in encouraging administrators to lock down systems. Most admins do a very good job with limited time and resources, but security is usually well down their list of priorities. Users who show an interest can alter that in a constructive way by showing that they care. Very few servers have a thorough check by a skilled security expert at any time in their serviceable lifetimes. That would change if users didn't passively assume by default that everything is fine until things go sour.
About the Author:
Is your computer as secure as it should be? Find out what you should be doing to keep it safe from viruses, spyware and other internet security threats at the Online Security Toolkit website. Visit http://www.onlinesecuritytoolkit.com for more information. |
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