HELP DESK
Q: My computer tech just replaced my hard disk and eliminated all of my anti-virus programs and replaced everything with Microsoft Security Essentials. He thinks that since Microsoft created Windows that “Microsoft knows best.” What do you think?
Betty Cuney
A: There’s nothing wrong with Security Essentials. It’s a suite of programs that does everything from check for viruses to taking care of other malware. Sort of a one size fits all solution. I think you are safe going with your technician’s suggestion.
Q: I have recently left the PC world and now have a desktop Mac, an iPhone and iPad. I’m curious about the need for virus protection for the Mac. The sales guy at the Mac store seemed to be saying that my Mac couldn’t and wouldn’t be infected. Is this your understanding?
Jon May
A: While there have been a few viruses that target the Mac, it is indeed fairly safe when it comes to viruses. There’s no harm in installing an anti-virus program – just to guard against the possibility that some new virus pops up that will harm your Mac, or to avoid passing along an infected program to friends. So it’s up to you but, in general, I agree with the guy at the Mac store.
I write about Internet security so often that there are times when I feel like a particularly paranoid parrot – repeating the same dire warnings over and over.
Maybe you tire of hearing it.
But then something comes along to make me realize the dangers are so severe it would be difficult for even an odd old bird like myself to exaggerate the risks. The latest case in point is an especially evil scheme called CryptoLocker.
Let me explain how it works. You click open an attachment to an innocent seeming email and an evil bit of malware invades your computer. The next thing you see is an on-screen message saying that all your data – your email, your letters, your photos, financial information … everything – has been scrambled. The only way to unscramble that information is to pay the hackers who created CryptoLocker. And it’s a lot of money just to get the key that will unscramble your data.
Up to now most hacks – once detected – could be defeated and the computer returned to normal. That’s not the case with CryptoLocker. While there are ways to remove the malware itself, there is no known way to unscramble the mess it makes of your data other than paying the ransom.
The hackers seem to honor their promise. When someone pays up the hackers remove the encryption. But what a mess. You either pay blackmailers or lose your files.
If I’m right and if this ugly program is the leading edge of a new level of threats the landscape has changed in a really bad way.
I’m asking for a permanent change in how you use your computer. If you follow my advice you have a decent chance of avoiding this new generation of very dangerous threats. Let’s review what you need to do to make things as safe as humanly possible.
1: You must use anti-virus, anti-spyware software to protect your computer.
2: It’s imperative that you regularly backup the date in your computer. That way, if one of these new threats does sneak by your first line of protection – the anti-malware programs – you avoid losing your data to some computer thug.
3: You no longer can safely open email attachments – even when they seem to come from a friend or a trusted company.
Take those three steps – I think you’ll agree they are annoying but not difficult – and you should avoid most of these new threats. You’ll notice that I said “should” not “will.” That’s because the sophistication of computer criminals is growing by the day.
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