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Spotlight On: |
December 3, 2009 | Volume 3, Issue 12 | www.sdchamber.org | contact us Getting a New Computer?
Randy Abrams, Director of Technical Education, ESET, LLC As the holiday season approaches, many people will be giving and receiving new computers. Some of these computers will run Windows, some Linux, and some will be Macs. There are security issues to be aware of when using any type of computer. New Windows computers often come with antivirus software pre-loaded. However, in most cases the antivirus software isn’t there because the computer manufacturer thought it was the best product for you. It’s there because the antivirus vendor paid the manufacturer to put it there. I am aware of one manufacturer whose selection criteria for the antivirus software is whichever one slows down the boot time the least, and not which one does the best job of protecting the consumer. In most cases, the antivirus product included is a trial version and will expire in three to six months. So, if you are giving or receiving a computer, you might want to consider a full year or two of quality protection for the gift. Many new computers will also include Windows 7. Despite security improvements in Windows 7, Microsoft still advises the use of antivirus software. No general-purpose operating system, whether it is Windows, Linux, or Mac, is immune to malicious software. Some people will give or get Macs or PCs running Linux. While the Mac operating system and the Linux operating system are less likely to be attacked than Windows, there are still some malicious threats out there that can cause problems. Again, you might want to consider extra protection these computers as well. When it comes to cybercrime, Macs and Linux PCs offer no significant security over a Windows PC. Recently, ESET commissioned a poll to study the awareness, beliefs, and experiences of Americans with respect to cybercrime. Despite the fact that Mac and PC users alike perceive a Mac as safer than a PC, Mac and PC users reported virtually identical rates of being victims of cybercrime. Internet security education is your best defense against most cybercrime. Phishing attacks are not dependent upon the operating system, they rely upon tricking users into divulging their bank, credit card, or other personal information to an attacker. Learning how to avoid the most common attacks and mistakes that lead to victimization is essential no matter what computer you use. Find more advice on how to avoid falling victim a phishing attack. For general security questions or to suggest future topics email me askeset@eset.com. Learn more about ESET at www.eset.com.
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