Who Needs Anti-Virus?

To most people, viruses are one of the more mysterious creatures that roam the Internet. Their non-transparent nature makes them increasingly frightening. It appears that we are just waiting for the next virus epidemic. The most common inquiry I receive is: how can I successfully protect myself when my anti-virus fails me. The central predicament with anti-virus software is that its nature it totally reactionary. The anti-virus software reacts only after a computer virus is discovered in the Internet or on a computer. What about the people that are infected before the anti-virus companies respond? They are out of luck. The best defense method is to minimize the threat by using commonsense. Essentially, viruses are more limited than most people think. They usually have to be actively be executed in one way or another. The user, generally, has to embark on activating the virus. Now, it is important to understand that virus writers have become very sophisticated in encouraging you to open their files. Here are some tips to ensure you will not fall for their chicanery:

1.) Do not trust email (even if it's from a familiar email address)
Email addresses can easily be spoofed. All one needs is a widely available smtp server. The best way to avoid a problem here is to be aware of discrepancies in writing patters. If you aunt Lori writes to you ' Duuuddeee! You gotta check this out! Execute this shady file~' it's safe to assume that she is not the author -it may be her email address though.

2.) Do not open executable files (if you don't know the extension, don't execute it)
Viruses can infect an array of files in order to spread. The most common are *.exe, *.com, or *.vbs (love-bug). Think about it. Who sends you executable files? If a coworker, or someone else you trust, sends you an important executable file and urges you to open it. Just contact him/her on your cell phone to ensure he/she is the real author.

3.) Keep you OS state of the art
Many are tempted to simply update their anti-virus software. This creates a false sense of security. However, disregarding other important updates may prove costly. Most viruses target exploits in browsers and the OS system. If you are using Windows, it is extremely easy to update your system. Simply browse to www.windowsupdate.microsoft.com and follow the detailed instructions.

If you follow these steps and commit to updating your software and your knowledge about current threats, your expensive anti-virus software will be reduces to the last line of defense.