[ Home | About | Product List | Purchase | HowTo | Account | FAQs & More... ] Updates For You is a notification service providing current software update and upgrade information. The update information delivery is in the form of email messages. Messages are created and sent as the information becomes available. There is no prearranged schedule for message delivery. Messages are provided for security and bug fix updates and upgrades for the various MicroSoft® Windows® operating systems as well as the software progams they run. The vast majority of malware (viruses, trojans, keyloggers, worms, etc.) is aimed at the Windows operating system and programs. Many claim the main reason for this is due to the majority of systems currently running Windows. Others proclaim that it is the result of poor programming practices and improper design. In any case, the result is that the average personal computer is extremely vulnerable to attack. The indicators of an infected PC can be minor annoyances that include slow performance, program execution failures (blue screen of death, send error report dialog) and unrequested pop-ups and fly-overs. On the other end of the spectrum, these vulnerabilities can scour a system for passwords for financial records and institutions. A keylogger could capture the access to an on-line banking site and transmit it to Russia, China, the delinquent down the block or who knows where. A trojan might locate social security numbers to be used for identity theft. Or the PC could be turned into a zombie used to search for and infect other computers through the InterNet. Some jurisdictions have passed laws that make the owner of the infected PC responsible for the damage it does. Lately it has been reported that the "fix" for an infected PC is to buy a new one as described in this article at The Inquirer.net. Although this will alleviate the immediate problem, it is not a long-term solution. It will only be a matter of time before the problem repeats. Most people cannot afford to constantly replace their systems. Not to mention the time and effort it takes to install the programs on a new computer as well as move all of the music, videos, documents, spreadsheets, financial data, etc., to the new computer. And if the old computer just barely runs, this process can be excruciating. One of the best ways to help prevent a system from being compromised is to keep all of the software running on it updated to the current levels. There is no guarantee, but an up to date system is much more likely to be able to resist an infection. The Register (www.register.co.uk) recently pulished an article on the SANS Institute (isc.sans.org) report that an unprotected Windows XP system survives for only 20 minutes after connection to the InterNet. The only way to truley protect a system is to not have a network (i.e. InterNet) connection and never load floppy diskettes, CD-ROMs, DVDs or attach jump / thumb / USB drives. Although safe, such a system would not be considered very useful in today's world. Thus, best practices include installing the latest operating system service pack, running a good anti-virus program, having a firewall installed and enabled and running spy-ware scanning tools. All of these products must be kept up to date in order to remain reasonably effective. Security is a process, not a goal. |