Fight Spam, Virus and Spyware to keep your Computer safe

Fighting spam, virus and spyware is an absolute must for every PC these days.

Protecting your machine requires several levels of protection - both on your mail server and on your computer.

These issues are not going away, and they are only getting worse. This sort of protection is not optional anymore!

Your email provider should have a spamfilter as well as antivirus protection running on their mail server. For example Kahl Consultants uses SpamAssassin and ClamAV to protect our clients.

But every PC also need to have an additional level of security by properly running the following:

I) AntiSpam,
II) AntiVirus, and
III) AntiSpyware software.

Lets take a look at each of these issues...


I) AntiVirus

The antivirus software on your computer will only work properly if you follow these rules:

1) Do not install antivirus software if you think you already have a virus on your computer.

2) First use the free antivirus checker at the website www.antivirus.com. This runs straight from a website so it will find any virus already on your hard drive.

3) Once your hard drive is clean you can install antivirus software (such as Norton Antivirus)

4) Set your antivirus software to automatically update and automatically protect your email software. Also scan your entire hard drive weekly.

5) We do NOT recommend using Outlook Express for email or Internet Explorer for web browsing (both come preinstalled with Windows). Both are very susceptible to virus and spyware threats. If you must use them make sure you use the latest versions and download all the necessary Windows security updates.

See also: www.microsoft.com/security/


II) AntiSpam

1) Use Mozilla Mail or Thunderbird for your email software. The Mozilla mail software has a built in spam filter.

Mozilla Mail and Thunderbird are free downloads from www.mozilla.org

2) We do NOT recommend using Outlook Express but if you must use it as your email software make sure you update to the very latest version and download all the necessary Windows security updates.

See also: www.microsoft.com/security/

3) If you have a website remove all your email address links from your websites, since that is where spammers usually "harvest" them. Instead set up a contact form which makes your email address invisible.

4) Another way spammers get your email is when you do any shopping or registration online. Do NOT use your primary email addresses for this. Set up a free email account specifically for this purpose (for example with Yahoo!).

5) Never answer any spam, and never try to unsubscribe from spam unless you are sure that the spam is coming from a reputable company.

6) Set your email software to read the e-mail messages you receive as plain text only

7) There's a new form of e-mail fraud called PHISHING. Phishing scams are more than just unsolicited and annoying spam—they could lead to the theft of your credit card numbers, passwords, account information, or other personal information.

This type of identity theft scam is growing rapidly. Here are some tips:

a) Never respond to requests for personal information via e-mail. If in doubt, call the institution that claims to have sent you the e-mail.

b) If you suspect that an e-mail from your credit card company, bank, online payment service, or other Web site you do business with is not legitimate, don't follow the links to the Web site from an e-mail message. Those links may take you to a spoofed site that might send all the information you enter to the scam artist who created the site.

c) How do you know a website is secure? Check if the Web site uses encryption to transmit your personal information by checking the yellow lock icon on the status bar is in the locked position.


III) AntiSpyware

Eliminating Spyware is not just a question of protecting your privacy, since spyware can also damage the operating system and software on your computer.

To help protect your computer from malicious pop-up windows in your browser, use a utility that prevents them from opening. Malicious attackers use pop-up windows disguised as ads or offers to install malicious code on your computer.

1) We recommend using Ad-Aware for your antispyware, which is a free download from:
www.lavasoftusa.com/software/adaware/

2) Use the Mozilla or Firefox browser. Both have a built in popup blocker which helps to reduce spyware.

Mozilla and Firefox are free downloads from www.mozilla.org


Yes folks, as you can tell it is getting tougher to protect your PC from security threats. Don't be discouraged, because for every threat there is a solution. Keep up to date on

Feel free to contact Kahl Consultants if you have questions.

What happens when you drag and drop a file?

A guide to what happens when you drag and drop a file in Windows.

Some people are confused by the seemingly random behavior when you drag a file. Do you get a move or a copy?

And you’re right to be confused because it’s not obvious until you learn the secret.

* If Ctrl+Shift are held down, then the operation creates a shortcut.
* If Shift is held down, then the operation is a move.
* If Ctrl is held down, then the operation is a copy.
* If no modifiers are held down and the source and destination are on the same drive, then the operation is a move.
* If no modifiers are held down and the source and destination are on different drives, then the operation is a copy.

This is one of the few places where the fact that there are things called “drives” makes itself known to the end user in a significant way.

Side note: a right-click drag will always provide a menu where you can choose which operation (copy, move, create a shortcut) will take place.