photo credit: CGehlen
Like any medium, we all need to keep a discerning eye on the information we read on the Internet and in email. You don’t believe everything you read in the newspaper or see on TV do you? The Internet is no different and tends to breed more fiction because its tools are so readily available.
First and foremost, keep an anti-virus software running on your computer at all times and make sure it is updated at least weekly. Remember, keeping an anti-virus program updated is completely different than the program doing a weekly scan of your computer files. I currently favor AVG Antivirus or Avast on my computer and my client’s computers, but whatever you use, keep it updated often or it won’t be able to hunt for the newest threats.
Next, I also recommend that everyone use an anti-spyware program like SpyBot Search & Destroy, Malwarebytes, or SuperAntispyware…all are linked in the right hand column under the Security heading. Again, update them and scan with them often.
Lastly, be very wary of all email (including the ones from your friends and family). I believe that 90% of the stuff forwarded in email is junk. In fact, I never read a message that is forwarded for that reason. If you do read forwarded email, use these sites and don’t trust the new technique of folks saying “verified at Snopes.” Often they put this statement in the email so that you don’t verify it for yourself.
- Snopes
- Kumite – Vmyths
- Hoaxbusters - from the Department of Energy
- Hoaxkill
Related articles:
- Don’t confuse Updates with Scans
- Update your virus protection
- Another reminder
- A friendly reminder about Snopes
- Windows Update? Yes, you should…
Tags: antivirus, attach, AVG, email, Internet, update, virus
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