Beware what PC viruses can do to you!

(The following article was submitted by Ralph Perdue Jr., the Computer/Technology Manager for Oklahoma CareerTech  - Skills Centers Division)

Please take the time to read this, especially if you have a home computer that you use on the internet. 

By law, if you take your work computer to your IT Department, or your home computer to a local technician or computer service to get it fixed or cleaned, and they find instances of child pornography on your computer, they have to alert local law enforcement of the findings. Some viruses are now placing child porn on your computer, without your involvement or consent by visiting child porn websites in the background and downloading images, using your computer as a repository of images. 

Now, more than ever, it is important to have adequate VIRUS and MALWARE protection on your computer and to practice safe browsing and e-mail habits. If your new computer's "Trial Version" virus scanner has expired and you think "Well, I'm protected, even if it has expired" think again. There are many great "free" virus scanning products available, including the new Microsoft Security Essentials. AVAST and AVG are good products, available for free to home users only.

If you are a home or business user, you can download and install Microsoft Security Essentials legally as long as you are using XP, Vista or Windows 7, but it will make sure you are using a legal version of the operating system before it will install.

Please read the following article closely and all of the way to the end. You'll see why I'm sending this alert!

http://news.aol.com/article/pedophiles-use-viruses-to-stash-child/758056?icid=main|main|dl1|link4|http://news.aol.com/article/pedophiles-use-viruses-to-stash-child/758056

The most common way to get a virus is to click on an attachment in an e-mail. Curiosity killed the cat, and curiosity can land you in jail if you're not careful. If you get an e-mail from an unknown and un-trusted source, don't be curious, just delete it and empty the trash. If you do get an e-mail from a friend or co-worker that contains an attachment, don't click on the attachment unless you requested it, or were expecting it, or unless you verify from the sender by e-mail or by phone that the attachment was sent by them and that it is something you need to open or save. If your Virus protection is of quality and up to date, it should either stop or strip the attachment of any virus before it allows it to be opened if the attachment is infected in the first place.

Links to "Free" Anti-Virus/Malware software for Home Users:

Microsoft Security Essentials - http://www.filehippo.com/download_security_essentials/  (Pick your version.  Free to Business or Home Users)

AVAST - http://www.filehippo.com/download_avast_antivirus/  (Home Users Only)

AVG - http://www.filehippo.com/download_avg_antivirus/  (Home Users Only)

Stand-alone Malware scanners (works in conjunction with commercial anti-virus software such as McAfee, Norton, Kaspersky, etc.)  Free to home users, but registered versions can be used legally by businesses:

Spybot Search and Destroy - http://www.filehippo.com/download_spybot_search_destroy/   (Free to Business or Home Users)

Ad-Aware 2009 - http://www.filehippo.com/download_ad-aware/   (Home Users Only)

Malwarebytes Anti-Malware - http://www.filehippo.com/download_malwarebytes_anti_malware/   (Home Users Only)

SuperAntiSpyware - http://www.filehippo.com/download_superantispyware/   (Home Users Only)

In most cases, the built-in Windows Firewall is adequate for home and business users, assuming that it is turned on! But there are more robust firewall packages available for free or licensed use too. Some examples include ZoneAlarm and Sygate.

Links to "Free" firewall software for Home Users:

ZoneAlarm - http://www.filehippo.com/download_zonealarm_free/

Sygate - http://www.filehippo.com/download_sygate_personal_firewall/

A good Internet Security package that includes both anti-virus and firewall protection, free to home or business users is Comodo Internet Security:

Comodo - http://www.filehippo.com/download_comodo

Please understand that internet access, without adequate firewall and virus/malware protection is as unsafe as leaving your wallet or purse on a bench in the mall!