How You Can Be Virus Free
Viruses issues are close to the top of the list of most computer services calls.
For some computer geeks it may be ranked as the number one generator of customer service calls.
And the computer geeks use this to their advantage and your disadvantage.
Have you ever wondered why you have had your technician install a firewall, anti-virus software, anti-ad-ware programs and you still have computers become sick with a virus?
I’ll start my answer to this question by telling you that I have not had a virus infect any of my personal or work computers under my control for more than 10 years at the writing of this report in 2008.
As long as I am the only one logging on to the computer, configuring the computer and using the computer I am virus Free.
The user of a computer is the one that is most likely to open the door to the virus.
When a computer is set up with the anti-virus software, a firewall and ad-ware tools it is still vulnerable to a virus attack by the actions of the user.
Too many users feel the anti-virus tools alone gives them the protections they need. And for the most part they are right.
Then what’s the problem? Why do some viruses sneak through?
The answer is that the actions of some computer users is out of the control of the anti-virus software.
In most cases a virus is launched on you computer when a SPAMMER tricks you into clicking on a link on a web page or in and email that invites the virus onto your computer.
Now sometimes your anti-viruses software will warn you that something is about to be installed on your machine…
However a clever SPAMMER has conned you by making it appear that the attachment was sent to you from someone you know.
Now most of the time your IT consultant or help desk person has warned you to only open attachments from people you know, but they have not done a very good job of educating about the tricks SPAMMERS and hackers use to trick you.
Why haven’t your IT pros educated you better about viruses?
Are they just evil and don’t mind a few viruses taken out your computer so they can run up some nice service charges removing the viruses?
Well, as an IT pro myself, I do not know of any professionals that would allow this to happen.
It certainly would not be good for getting referral businesses if you can’t keep someones computer running because of virus attacks.
The reality is most computer geeks are not very good communicators or teachers.
They tend to move the user aside, fix the problem then move on to the next client or project with very little explanation of what happened or why.
Unfortunately this continues to leave you vulnerable.
You must look at every email and every web page with a critical eye and then make sure that you have all of the anti-virus, anti-phishing and firewall tools configured and up-to-date.
It is also very critical that you control who uses you computers and how they use them.
This is especially true if you have children at home.
Never… ever… ever let your children use any computer in your home that you use for your business.
You can’t afford to have a computer that puts money in your pocket put out of commission because junior unknowingly clicked on a cute little picture of a butter fly that launches a huge computer nasty.