#210 - Safety in an unsafe world

Computer safety has been in the news the past couple of weeks.  The first BIG Mac virus has hit and it is a doozy.  Infecting over 600,000 MACs with a robot virus that takes control of your PC and lets other (evil others) do what they want with your MAC. It is being distributed via infected websites as a Java program that pretends to be an update for the Adobe Flash Player. Very nasty.  Apple had an update out to plug the hole within a week. 

Interestingly, infections like the Mac one I talk about above, are an every day occurrence in the PC world.  And sure enough this weeks panic was the press release by the FBI.   The FBI says that over 300,000 PCs will lose Internet access come July 9, 2012.  Now the FBI isn't pulling the plug on those PCs  What is happening is the infamous "DNS Changer" virus will finally be able to do its worst.  The FBI (and others) have been giving PC owners times to identify that they have this virus and remove it by providing a solution on the Internet.  The cost of providing that solution is at the point where the cost to benefit are to just turn off the protection.  If you are concerned that you might have this virus just click on this link: http://dns-ok.us/  If the background is Green, you are safe.  If red you need to give PCSS or another Computer Repair person a call pretty soon.

So how does one stay safe from all these perils in the world of computing.   Short of staying off the Internet there is not sure way to protect yourself 100%.  You should have a good Antivirus/Antimalware product on your PC.  We like AVG, and we like the pay version of AVG much better.  (we don't make much on the pay version for what its worth).  We also recommend that you NEVER download anything without knowing 100% that is is not infected.  Also you need to be careful where you surf on the web.  I can guarantee if you go to risky sites, you will get your PC infected no matter the protection you have.  You should also use a search protection tool such as AVG safe search or Web of Trust to let you know if a site is infected after you do a search.

Its an unsafe world on the Internet.  Yes there is unlimited amounts of information.  But getting to that information can compromise your PC and the valuable information on your PC.  We've see a new virus that HIDES all your information on the PC and its a real bear to recover that information.  Being conservative in you browsing is the best defense.