Protect your home computer from evil invaders
By Cynthia Lee
Today Staff writer
Ever feel like tossing your home computer right into a recycling bin because it’s been crippled by viruses, worms and spyware?
Are you pestered by toolbars that mysteriously show up in your browser? Or have you noticed changes to your home page settings, a sudden increase in pop-up ads or computer malaise?
These are all signs that spyware or adware may have penetrated your machine, recording your online activities in order for the spies to target you with customized ads.
A panel of IT experts at UCLA dispensed valuable advice on how to keep home computers from getting infected and how to eradicate viruses and nasty spy- and adware once they get in.
The seminar was hosted by BruinTech (formerly icompass) Jan. 25 and attended by around 300 staff and faculty at Korn Convocation Auditorium.
Dealing with these invaders is serious business. Keeping personal and financial information out of the hands of crooks trolling the Internet and preventing your computer from being remotely hijacked by someone with malicious intentions make protection a “must,” the UCLA tech experts said.
“We send out seven to 10 e-mails a week to [BruinOnLine] users warning them that their computers have been hijacked,” said Jeff Baughn, a BOL manager on the panel. The most likely culprits, he explained, are hackers who are using these hijacked computers, commonly called “zombies,” to overwhelm other computer systems or to send out large amounts of spam.
Home computers are the most vulnerable because, unlike corporate or university systems, they tend to be without technical support, said Peter Kovaric, who addressed protection for the Macintosh. He is with the Graduate School of Education & Information Studies.
Here are some caveats from panelists Robert Kilgore of College Information Systems, Danny Trinh of Medical Center Computing Services and others:
• Don’t be fooled by authentic-looking e-mail from credit card companies, banks or others seeking financial information. Many times, they’re after your logon ID and password. Beware of rebate offers. And don’t download free programs. “It’s not free. They’re making money somehow,” Kilgore warned. Chances are, you’ll get more than you asked for.
• Don’t click on links in suspicious e-mails even if the links look harmless. You may be taken to a Web site where ad- or spyware are ready to pounce. Rather than clicking on a link, just open your browser and type in the URL so that you control where you are going.
• Don’t open any strange e-mail attachments. Either confirm with the sender that this attachment was sent to you, or, to be safe, save the unopened attachment to your hard drive. If you have anti-virus software, that will blast away any viruses.
• Don’t allow your home wireless network to go unprotected. Neighbors and passersby can utilize an unsecured network. If they commit an illegal act, you, as the owner of the network, will be held responsible.
Finally, do update your operating and security software automatically or manually to stay current with the latest invaders. If you don’t have your preferences set for automatic updates, you should do manual updates at least weekly, Kilgore advised.
Being vigilant won’t cost you a dime. Faculty, staff and students can download free Sophos Anti-Virus onto their home computers by going to www.bol.ucla.edu/software/sophos.
Programs for both Macs and Windows PCs are available. But before downloading, make sure you have no other anti-virus program on your machine.
If you sometimes use your home computer for university purposes, you’re entitled to download SpySweeper at no charge. Go to www.bol.ucla.edu/software/spysweeper.
To see panelists’ PowerPoint presentations, containing detailed how-to instructions, and a video of the seminar, go to www.BruinTech.ucla.edu. |
