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Computer security - Step 2 |
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Step 1-Secure firewall
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Step 3-Spyware/adware
AWC Consulting
service highlight:
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Protect
yourself from a virus infection. AWC Consulting can setup a
virus detection system in your office to protect yourself from virus
attack.
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Already
infected? AWC Consulting will quickly and effectively remove a
virus infection from your office.
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What is a computer virus?
A computer virus is a program created to cause problems on a
recipient’s computer. The severity of the virus can be from a nuisance (by
making keys on the keyboard not work correctly) to extremely destructive (by
erasing everything on your computer and network).
There are a variety of ways to "catch" a virus. Any
computer file from, for example, a floppy disk, CD-ROM, Web site or an Email
attachment has the potential to infect your computer.
A virus can attack files of nearly any type. For example,
Microsoft Word and Excel files can potentially have a virus. So opening a file
from any external source can potentially infect your computer with a
virus.
With the increasing use of Email and high speed Internet
connections, people are exposing their computers to a greater level of risk. You
must take steps to protect your
computers, and to keep your business running.
You need multiple layers of defence
There are over 65,000 known computer viruses…. and more are
being discovered every day. To protect your company’s valuable data (such as
client presentations, proposals, financial records) and prevent expensive
downtime you must take a multi-pronged approach to virus protection. To prevent
the destructive spread of a virus in an office, a company needs to:
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This device scans Email being retrieved from the Internet, before they
reach your internal network. This appliance stops virus attacks before they
reach your workstations.
Install Anti-virus software on every computer: Catch
any infected files that slipped through the Antivirus Appliance (for example,
files on a floppy disk or CD).
Once your antivirus software is installed, you must constantly
update the program so that it can detect the newest viral threats. Most modern
antivirus packages allow you to download the latest updates through the
Internet.
If you do not update the software, it is useless against newer
virus attacks. Given new virus attacks are being released on a regular basis, it
is extremely important that every computer in an office can detect the latest
virus attacks.
Despite the protection offered by Antivirus software, you
should not open programs and attachments without any thought. Antivirus software
should never be trusted to always protect your computer. Even if you have the
latest virus updates, a new, unknown virus is capable of infecting and damaging
your computer and network. Opening Email attachments is always a significant
risk. Every user must understand these risks to minimize the chance of being hit
by a virus attack.
Antivirus software is most effective when combined with an
acceptable use policy and the use of safe email practices
(contact us for
further details).
Installing Antivirus software is not enough…
Several virus attacks take advantage of known vulnerabilities
in Windows. The recent Slammer virus/worm infected hundreds of thousands of
computers with a known vulnerability. A patch to correct this vulnerability has
been available from Microsoft for months… yet the Slammer virus spread because
computer users failed to install this patch. If your system is not up to date,
you are at severe risk of being infected.
The Slammer virus spread by searching for vulnerable computers
through the Internet. Vulnerable computers were infected without the user
downloading a file onto the computer. Instead, Slammer infected the vulnerable
computers remotely without any user intervention.
You must assess:
- Is your computer up to
date? Are all computers on
your network up to date? One infected computer can wreak havoc with your
network.
- Do you regularly update your computer Operating System with
the latest security patches?
- Do you regularly update your computer applications (such as
Microsoft Outlook or Microsoft Word) to protect yourself?
If you do not know the answers to these questions how safe are
you from attack?
Developing an effective Antivirus program
AWC Consulting can help you implement an effective program to
protect your data and operation from a virus attack. Time must also be taken to
ensure that your software is being updated to provide the greatest level of
protection possible.
AWC Consulting will help you assess risks and work within a
budget to secure your network.
This is achieved through a broad range of services from
installation of antivirus software and supporting training to working with you
to develop policies for employee use.
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