Archive for the ‘Virus’ tag
Computer security: What to buy or download for free
Kaspersky Anti-Virus 2009
Although at NZ$55* for a downloaded version it is one of the most expensive standalone antivirus programs on sale in New Zealand, Kaspersky is the most effective. The company is also quickest off the mark when it comes to delivering updates to protect customers against the latest emerging threats. The program is one of the easiest to use with a polished user interface and clearly labelled options – though you’ll have to set up its scheduled scan yourself. I’ve not tested Kaspersky’s Internet Security 2009.
* When I visited the online store points New Zealand customers to an Australian site where the download price is A$55.
http://www.kasperskyanz.com.au/
Symantec Norton Internet Security 2009
The best-known name in PC security combines a first-rate antivirus program that also pounces on spyware with a solid firewall in its security suite.
All the security functions are accessible from a control centre which clearly shows when something’s wrong – clicking this will normally fix things in a jiffy. If you run a home network, you can inspect the security settings of all computers from a single screen.
Norton Internet Security 2009 will slow your machine a tad, but in practice I find it far less disruptive than McAfee’s products and a noticeable improvement on earlier versions of the Norton software. Norton also stays out-of-the-way when you are working. At A$99 or NZ$99 to protect three home computers the price is good too.
Trend Micro HouseCall
If you’ve been slack with your computer security and suddenly feel under threat Trend Micro’s Housecall (http://housecall.trendmicro.com) is a free web-based antivirus and spyware service that can check your system for problems and then fix them. It works with both Internet Explorer and Mozilla Firefox, you download some code and then set it to work in your browser while you get on with other tasks. It works just like any other anti-spyware product and is at least as good at finding nasty software. While using HouseCall isn’t as safe as having security software running on your machine, it is a great quick fix.
Kaspersky offers an alternative online scanner at http://www.kaspersky.com/virusscanner. It works fine, but is tricky if you’re running Windows Vista as you have to open your browser in administrator mode. That’s a non-trivial road block.
McAfee Total Protection 2009
In the past McAfee’s security tools haven’t been the best. I’ve found them to deliver less than first-rate protection while slowing down my computer and getting in the way of everyday work. What’s more, the company seems heavy-handed about extracting money from customers with pop-ups and constant email reminders.
And to cap it all, McAfee’s products are expensive. Total Protection 2009 costs A$130 in Australia and NZ$130 for customers buying direct from the web site. Computer stores may sell it for less but the rival programs are cheaper and have a better track record so why risk it? While I haven’t had the chance to test McAfee Total Protection 2009 personally, the marketing blurb says its simpler to user and uses fewer resources. It’s not the product I’d choose, but there are people who swear by McAfee.
Avast Antivirus
Avast is free for home users. You can’t argue with the price. Business users are expected to pay, but prices are low in comparison to other antivirus options. It’s a light program and uses hardly any computer resources which means it won’t slow you down. It’s also simple enough for non-technical people to use without being bamboozled. You’ll get regular automatic updates as required too.
AVG Anti-Virus Free Edition 8.0
As the name suggests, the price tag on AVG Anti-Virus Free Edition 8.0 is a big fat zero. Unlike Avast, AVG makes the free version harder to find on its web site and goes to great lengths to persuade you the paid for products make more sense, but in reality it’s a good anti-virus tool at keen price.
Comodo Firewall
Don’t be lured into a false sense of security by the firewalls built into Microsoft Windows Vista or Windows XP, you need better protection. The paid-for internet security suites all include robust firewalls, Comodo is widely regarded as the best free option. You might find it a bit annoying at first when it keeps asking you about programs, but after a while it’ll settle down and keep the worst malware at bay.
Computer security guide: What are the main threats?
Online security problems facing home users and small businesses are different from those facing larger companies and corporations.
Here are threats you may meet:
- Malware: Is the generic name for all malicious software. Some people also talk of greyware which refers to software that’s annoying but not dangerous.
- Virus: A small program designed to automatically copy itself from one computer to another. Viruses attach to other pieces of software or hidden inside images, games and music files. They usually travel from machine to machine by email, instant messaging or file transfers. Although some viruses are harmless, most are disruptive, the worst can stop a PC from working.
- Worm: Also a self-replicating program, but unlike viruses, worms can automatically travel from machine to machine without being attached to other pieces of software. This means in addition to any other damage they slow networks because they can consume bandwidth.
- Trojan: The name given to a program which looks harmless, but has an unexpected malicious purpose. Some start their mischief immediately, others may wait, possibly collecting data without the computer owner’s knowledge.
- Spyware: A program designed to collect information about a computer and its user that the spyware author can use to make money. Typically spyware may watch your web browsing and target pop-up advertising at you or divert you to other web sites.
- Rootkit: A program designed to change a computer’s operating system to hide the behaviour of other malware.
- Keylogger: Software that collects keyboard data – possibly to collect passwords or important account information. Keyloggers can then send this information back to criminals allowing them to impersonate users and, for example, robbing their online banking accounts.
- Botnet: Programs used to control, update or trigger activity in previously infected systems.
- Backdoor: A way of getting undetected access to a computer system.
- Zombie: A computer being controlled by another user to perform some malicious online tasks.
- Spam: Unwanted email, instant messages or other form of electronic communication. Spam clogs email inboxes and the sheer volume of spam (as much as 95% of all email traffic) slows networks.
- Phishing: is when someone fraudulently tries to get hold of important information such as passwords and bank account details by pretending to be a trustworthy source. Phishers may send authentic-looking emails asking for the data or with links to a fake web site.
- Adware: Strictly speaking this isn’t a threat, but an annoyance. It refers to any software that bombards you with unwanted advertising.
Computer security: Introduction
The question isn't whether the virus-writers, phishers, spam merchants and other assorted online nuisances are targeting your PC, your money and your privacy. The question is how successful will they be.
Your computer and your data are potentially vulnerable from the moment you hit the on button. The threats multiply when you go online. While there’s no sure way to make your system safe, there’s plenty you can do to minimise the risks.
Computer security
The risks are real. At the less worrying end of the spectrum, neighbours might hop on your wireless router and surf the web on your ISP account or pranksters may load your PC with troublesome viruses.
There are people, including some seemingly respectable companies, who want to spy on your online activities.
More seriously, there are crooks who’d like to control your computer so they can suck money from your bank accounts.
Others want to hijack your machine so they carry out their crimes or even terrorist acts at arm’s length leaving a trail that investigators may track to your front door.
Getting Started
It sounds scary, but a whole industry has evolved to help keep you safe. These days you need a variety of tools to fight a complex range of security threats (see the next post: Computer security guide: 2 what are the main threats).
At the least you should consider antivirus, a firewall and anti-spyware tools.
This may sound complicated and expensive, but all-in-one security suites make life easier and help you sleep at night.
These are particularly helpful if you’re not a security expert because the separate tools in security suites should interact smoothly with each other and offer overlapping protection from today’s nastiest threats which can use a blend of techniques to probe your defences.