Threat of Viruses Not "Solved\’ Just Yet
Posted on August 18, 2008
A recent article in Information Week quotes the chairman and CEO of prominent antivirus company Symantec as saying that the problem of worms and viruses is solved,\' and that internet users today should be much more worried about phishing, fraud, and other online scams. While it is true that scam-based cyber crime is on the rise and fast becoming more of a threat than the old-school virus problem, this should not be interpreted to mean that viruses, spyware, adware, and other malware are no longer an issue.
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\r Yes, there have been many more cautionary tales online concerning people-driven scams, such as internet auction fraud, lottery scams, phishing, pharming, and similar threats. But considering the virus problem as one that is \"solved\" is a dangerous assumption. The existence of powerful firewalls, antivirus software, and educational information allows home users to secure their computers, which has rendered viruses and spyware less of a threat. But make no mistake - there are plenty of viruses and harmful malware in the wild, and being lax on computer security could ensure you learn the hard way how unsolved the virus problem is.
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\r Virus and malware threats have by no means wandered away and gotten lost. Symantec\'s own online virus log lists over 30 detected viruses for the first half of October alone. Add to that the use of keyloggers and spyware implemented in some phishing scams, and it is clear that users can\'t afford to slack off on antivirus protection.
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\r Computer viruses were named so because their method of spreading from computer to computer mimics the processes through which viruses spread from person to person. So, think of what people do to avoid being infected with, say, the common cold: they take preventative measures. They do things like wash their hands, take vitamins, and try to avoid infected people. Those who don\'t take preventative measures are much more likely to get sick, and will then have to spend energy, time, and money fighting off an infection that could have been avoided in the first place. Similarly, internet users who neglect to take preventative measures to avoid contracting a computer virus will likely find themselves spending energy, time, and money on the phone with technical support, trying to recover their files or, worse yet, on the phone with the police, trying to figure out how that much money could just disappear from their bank accounts.
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\r The aforementioned article was correct when it stated that phishing, fraud, and other scams currently are more prevalent online threats than viruses and spyware, but to make the statement that the virus problem is \"solved\" could be misleading to many, possibly causing some people to think they no longer need to worry about protecting their computers. It would be a shame if users were to focus so intently on avoiding internet fraud or some similar scam that they neglected to keep their antivirus software current and were infected by an easily preventable virus.
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\r When it comes to computer security, you can\'t be too careful. To make sure your computer is properly guarded from the threat of malware, be sure to:\r
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- Install antivirus software that scans for and removes viruses, spyware, and adware on your computer \r
- Install a popup blocker \r
- Install and run a firewall to keep hackers and attackers at bay \r
- Install a threat scanner to periodically scan for malware \r
- Update your software and computer programs regularly
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