I think it’s fair to say that all of us, regardless of what type of work we may be doing, just want our IT systems to help us towards getting the job done. In an ideal world you would have a system setup for your daily duties and then that would be it until that particular machine retires in the fullness of time. In reality this is not always possible. Why you may ask? “Surely if a machine works one day and nothing is changing internally, I don’t need to update my system with new features as my computer already does everything I need.”

This is a very valid point however due to the nature of most machines being connected together in a network and in turn to the internet, there are wider considerations and changes that come from outside your company. True some software updates do add new features and functions that you may or may not use however and most importantly they do included critical security updates. Unfortunately new viruses, spyware and malware regularly appear, and they are designed to attack the functionality or worse still your live working data. The critical system updates and specific software updates help ensure that any loopholes or backdoors are guarded and that your system is better protected. You may wonder if you have antivirus and firewall software if you still need these updates. The answer is a resounding “yes” for one simple reason. Many malicious programs bypass the traditional routes of infection and use your legitimate programs functions to gain access. Let’s have an example. You could receive an E-mail which contained a link to a website, which in turn calls on certain functions that your system normally allows. These functions can be used to carry out ill intended actions which can bypass the firewall and antivirus. Cause for concern certainly however the system updates close these loopholes and deny access. The strongest system in the world is only as strong as its weakest point of attack so in this case its very much a case of guarding every entry point. Generally it is considered best practice to have the latest service pack for your system and your security updates applied regularly. There can sometimes be compatibility considerations with updates however that’s where we come in. We have a wealth of experience in ensuring customers systems are both secure and functional. Equally important is a good Antivirus and Firewall package. We recommend Symantec which is rated as one of the very best in the industry. so if you have any queries please feel free to give us a call.

Tip 1 : The most common viruses are disguised within attachments such as funny images, pictures, greeting cards, or video and audio files. They are commonly spread by people sending and forwarding them via e-mail messages. You are advised not to open such e-mail attachments, even if you know the recipient, the chances are they did not generate the content of the attachment.

Tip 2 : A new and more worrying development is the technique of embedding executable code commonly found in dubious websites or spam mail (without any attachments!) This is now a common cause of viruses and to prevent them requires user awareness. If you don’t know the recipient of an email, delete it without opening it. If you are surfing the net, visit branded, respected websites, beware of the site that offer something for nothing!

Tip 3 : As well as viral attacks, one also should be aware of emails and sites that use ‘Phishing’ techniques, this is a VERY common problem. You may receive an email from a bank, eBay or PayPal etc., which on the surface looks genuine. It may state that there has been unusual activity on your account and asks you to log in and resolve the problem. The first rule of thumb is DO NOT click the link they provide to visit the website. ALWAYS open a new page on your chosen Internet software, Internet Explorer, Chrome, Safari, whatever, and then type in the URL of site you want to visit and check whether the account has been compromised. The objective of the Phisher is to collect your usernames and passwords so they CAN compromise your account.

Tip 4 : FACT: Social networking sites such as Facebook harbor viruses, we strongly recommend that business networks have an internet policy that informs staff what they can and cannot do on company PC’s.

Tip 5 : Viruses are easily spread with the use of removable media such as USB memory sticks, portable hard drives or CD’s. You should always scan the content of a drive or CD and any other removable media before transferring them to your computer.
Tip 6 : The Internet is a prime culprit for spreading viruses. Every downloadable file may harbor viruses.

• If you are downloading any content from the net, always do so from a respected well established branded website, try to avoid the sites you have not heard of, or conduct some research on their authenticity before downloading.
• Always scan files you have downloaded from the Internet before using them.
• Do not to install any unapproved software on your computer.

Tip 7 : General tip’s to avoid virus infection.

• Make sure you have respected anti-virus software installed in your computer.
• Make sure your anti-virus software is up dated, daily if feasible.
• Make sure your operating system is also up to date and any patches installed which provide the latest security updates. For instance, Windows Update should be enabled if you are using a Microsoft Windows Operating System.
• Scan your computer on a regular basis or schedule your anti-virus software to undertake regular scans.
• Install and run a firewall on your computer.
• Good luck and keep your computer virus free.

If you have any worries that your PC or network has not got the latest anti-virus software or updates, please call a member our team for professional assistance 01423 859370.

Many larger organisations are endeavouring to combat the attacks by investing into sophisticated firewalls and state of the art network security systems, however, many small to medium sized businesses appear to be oblivious to the risk. It is only a matter of time before the hackers turn their attention to the smaller infrastructures that lay vulnerable and easy targets.

So what can you do! Many businesses will argue that they simply do not have the finances to invest, however, it’s not always about spending a vast sum, and infact many organisations have already invested into adequate security systems but simply fail to follow a policy.

Like a house, a network is as secure as its weakest point, for example, you may have invested into good quality locks for your doors, however, someone leaves a window wide open! That invariably is what happens with a network. Someone, somewhere leaves a gaping whole by installing an unauthorised piece of software etc.

Simple things you can do to ensure enhanced security, firstly, get a reputable and professional IT company to assess your network. Most organisations would offer this service free of charge and offer a quotation for recommended work.

Change your passwords! Do you use one password that is the same for every account? Sadly, many of us do, however, a good suggestion is to possibly keep your old password but add numbers, something as simple as adding on a single digit on your password can help your security. Obviously, the more the better, so adding a few (and even adding them throughout the password) can make a big difference. To assist the memory; try replacing an ‘E’ with a ‘3’ or an ‘I’ with a ‘1’.

Make the first few letters capital, passwords are case sensitive and you’re looking at an even more variation.

Avoid using personal information like your name and date of birth. You never know what the people trying to steal your password already know, and remarkably a lot of people’s information is already likely to be scattered around forums and social networks.

Add in a special character, this is even better than using a number, dropping in a !@#$%^&*() may save you in the case of a brute force attack on your password. They might be frustrating, but so is identity theft.

It’s a pain I concede, but have more than one password. If a site you subscribe to is hacked and compromised, the chances are it’s the same password you use for your banking. With a little digging around, your hacker could be transferring funds within minutes.

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The worm does not successfully attack Norton/Symantec products, but it disables many other common Anti-Virus products. Once running on the computer, the threat attempts to e-mail a copy of the original e-mail to all e-mail addresses found in the infected user’s e-mail address book.

The threat also attempts to spread from computer to computer over the local network (to other machines on your home or office network) by copying itself to open drive shares found on other machines on the network. Once the threat copies itself to another machine, if a user even opens the folder that contains the threat on this new machine, this will launch the threat and cause it to spread further through both e-mail and over shared drives.

We recommend Norton Internet Security 2011. If you have an active subscription of a Norton security product, you are already protected. To get the latest free update visit the Norton Update Centre. If you have an expired Norton product, upgrade your product to Norton Internet Security 2011. If you do not have a Norton product, we recommend buying Norton Internet Security 2011.