Protect Your PC from Viruses and Hackers
By Chris Petrello

The personal computer is becoming a centerpiece of modern life. Your computer can be a center for entertainment, business, communication and research, switching ably from e-mail to tax preparation software to music jukebox and more.

The Internet creates many interesting possibilities for extending your PC’s reach by interfacing with networks and data across the globe. This reach is not one-way. When your computer joins a network, like the Internet, there is always the chance for trouble by way of hacking or viruses. When your PC is an integrated part of your practice, avoiding trouble is of utmost importance. Your business may depend on it.

The good news is that you can take some simple steps to ensure that you and your data remain secure. First, invest in anti-virus software. This is your first line of defense against harmful viruses that can now spread globally in less than 24 hours. Anti-virus solutions require some maintenance: You must regularly update the virus definitions to take advantage of the latest protection against viruses.

Be aware of the ways you can contract a computer virus. Most of the latest viruses are spreading via e-mail attachments. However, one recent widespread virus, Nimda, also spread through “regular” e-mail (not just manually downloaded attachments), and via infected web pages. Meaning, you could contract the virus by viewing a seemingly innocuous web page on an infected server, or by simply viewing an e-mail message without manually downloading the attached file. Up-to-date virus definitions will intercept these viruses before they infect your machine, and will save you from a protracted campaign to remove the virus from your system.

In addition to virus protection, it’s also a good idea to install a personal firewall for your PC, especially if you have any kind of broadband connection. A firewall blocks unwanted access to your PC, preserving your data and secure personal and business information from being exploited.

With most PC users (around 90%) using a variation of Microsoft Windows (95/98/ME/2000/XP), it is also important to stay current on any security updates available for your operating system. Many of the recent viruses exploit known security holes in the Windows operating system, that are easily patched by using Microsoft’s Windows Update. Windows Update will evaluate your PC and let you know which software needs to be updated. Macintosh and Linux/Unix users are not in the clear, however: Each operating system is susceptible to its own kind of security concerns.

A concentrated effort to protect your PC against security breaches is a means of using preventive maintenance to ensure that your computer stays up and running. Any cost associated with protecting your PC is immediately recouped with the first virus that is intercepted or the first hacking attack that is thwarted.

Mr. Petrello has worked for five years in the field of information technology. He is the webmaster for Chiropractic Economics magazine. You can reach him at cpetrello@chiroeco.com.