What protection can I expect from "bundled" antivirus software:
You may have recently purchased a new computer that came with "bundled" (included with your new PC at no additional charge) anti virus protection and are wondering if you are properly protected against the current Virus and Worm threats that are in the wild. Unless you regularly update (manually or automatically) your antivirus software and virus definition files (on a daily basis) you are probably not protected from many, or most of the newest incarnations of trojans, viruses, and worms making their around the Internet.
Bundled antivirus software may not be automatically updated unless you pay for or renew a subscription, or manually download and install new definition and program files (there are exceptions) on a regular basis. Often, bundled antivirus software usually comes with a three month trial subscription, during which time you may update it as often as you want, but after which it will refuse to update unless you purchase an annual subscription (or purchase a newer version). This makes it virtually useless once the trial period ends and the automatic or manual updates cease functioning.
What can I do about getting real computer anti virus protection?
Go out, or online, and buy Norton AntiVirus 2010,
Trend Micro PC-cillin Internet Security,
or another major brand with an auto-updating feature (get the newest editions). Install it and register/activate it, perform a manual online update, reboot if required, then scan your entire computer. Find the configuration screen and select the option to automatically update the definition files whenever you are online.
You won't be sorry. Also, manually check for program updates, and schedule virus scans, every day or two.
If you can't afford to purchase an Anti-Virus program there are plenty of free ones available for downloading. AVG Free, from Grisoft, is an excellent free virus scanner, and it also scans incoming and outgoing email.
Keeping your anti-virus program up to date
There are so many new viruses, Trojan and Worms being written and altered, on a weekly or daily basis, that one has to update their antivirus definitions every week, or even every few days.
The most popular antivirus programs come with a subscription for a year of online automatic updates. Symantec's Norton AntiVirus has a Live Update feature, which will update both the program and the virus definitions, online. It can also be configured to intercept all your incoming email and scan it for any known virus, Trojan, or Worm, or any program that displays the properties of such programs. If it finds a known or possible rouge attachment, you will be prompted with the information and asked what you want to do with the file.
If your subscription to a Norton security program has expired, or if you happen to be using an older version of a Norton security progam or suite, you can save up to 40% when you upgrade your Norton subscription, using this link!
Even if your anti virus program has automatic updates it is very prudent for you to manually check for updates on a regular basis, in case a sudden definition updates was pushed out after your last automatic check, because programs with out-of-date virus definitions can't protect you from new threats and hostile scripts.
A note about email attachments and hostile programs:
Speaking of hostile scripts, even if your anti-virus program scans incoming attachments, always look at the total filename before saving or opening any email attachment, just in case a brand new threat is inside that attachment. This is because many Internet worms and viruses are hidden-in-plain-sight, by using a non-executable filename, with an executable final extension. Even more insideous are some file-extensions that are not displayed in default Windows setups, such as .shs (Windows Scrap Object).
If the final extension ends in any of the following names it is executable and is capable of containing hostile code: .pif .lnk .bat .cmd .com .cpl .exe .scr (screensaver) .shs (not visible by default setup) .vbs .hta .rtf .doc .xls .ppt (the last 4 legitimate file-types could contain macro virus codes). I have seen infected spreadsheets sent from legitimate businesses who did not know that the computer they used to create the report was infected with a Macro infector, which replicated itself to everyone who received these attachments.
The bottom line is to first look to see what the full filename is, and then to decide whether to scan it for hostile code (if you're expecting it), with an up-to-date antivirus program, or simply delete it if you weren't expecting it (my procedure). If you must send or receive an email attachment be sure that the full filename is typed in both the subject and the body of the email, to authenticate it. Then scan it before opening it.
Most of the current brands of anti virus programs can be, or are automatically configured to intercept and scan your incoming email for infected attachments or embedded threats, before releasing them to your POP3 email program (eg. Outlook, Outlook Express, Thunderbird, Eudora, etc.). Most are configured to automatically delete any infected attachment or otherwise hostile scripted messages, or to remove the attachments.
Unfortunately, this feature is not available to users of AOL's proprietary software. Check the AOL Frequently Asked Questions to find out what they are doing, or what products they are offering at a discount, to protect you from viruses and spyware. In reality, unless you have downloaded, installed and regularly update anti-virus, anti-spyware and firewall software your computer is NOT fully protected by AOL, Earthlink, or whomever you have for your ISP.
Here is some good news about Virus and Worm protection for Mac computer owners!
Symantec has released Norton AntiVirus 11 for Mac (OS X and newer) - the #1 selling antivirus solution for the Mac.
Key Features include:
- Antivirus engine with automatic updates
- Internet Worm Protection
- Automatically detects and removes viruses and worms
- Prevents virus-infected email from spreading to your Windows computer friends
- Protects against attacks and exploits that target software vulnerabilities
- Works with new Mac OS® X v10.5 (Leopard)
- Runs natively on Intel® and PowerPC® based Mac® systems
- Includes an all-new Norton AntiVirus dashboard widget
- Delivers industry-leading protection in the background, so you can work and play without noticeable impact on performance
Norton AntiVirus 11 for the Mac OS is only $49.99, online. This includes a renewable one year subscription to receive virus protection and scanning engine updates. If you have a previous version you can upgrade for only $29.95 (follow the "Upgrade to the latest version" link on the landing page). Click here to order your copy, as an instant download, or on a CD shipped to you.
Security software resources:
Learn how a firewall can protect your computers against external and internal phone-home attacks.
Protect your PCs from unwanted or hostile incoming and outgoing Internet communications. Get the ZoneAlarm Pro Personal Firewall, now with anti-spyware protection. Protects 3 PCs for one low price!
Protect your laptop or home PC from MITM or Evil Twin wireless hijacking attacks. Anonymizer Total Net Shield provides a secure way to conduct personal online activities anytime, anywhere. In addition to shielding your IP address from cyber criminals, Total Net Shield also encrypts Wi-Fi connections, email, chat and instant messaging communications. Anonymizer Total Net Shield works by creating an encrypted 256 bit SSH "virtual tunnel" to and from your computer to shield you from even the most complex methods of online spying and snooping. Total Net Shield is similar to the secure Virtual Private Networks (VPN) that corporations use, but is designed for personal use.
