Virus Protection & User Ignorance
One of the most problematic areas of virus protection has to be in the area of user education. Over the years that I've worked with computers, I've experienced so many situations where a friend has called me up to ask me to look at or repair a computer. Often the computer would never have been affected if they'd been more meticulous in maintaining the licenses of their virus and system protection solutions.
I've often popped over to look at the affected system to find that the protection is several months, if not years out of date, the problem being that my friends thought that the virus stuff was part of the OS and that having it installed was enough. I firmly believe that any company selling solutions to the public should take responsibility for weaknesses in their systems. Apple are pretty good in that respect, however Microsoft fail all over the place.
The reality is that anyone who buys a car knows that they need to service their car on a regular basis. However people buy PCs thinking that these systems are like any other home appliances and that once purchased it'll take care of itself. The problem is they are potentially the most dangerous and intrusive of technologies, and in the wrong hands, information stolen from computers can potentially ruin your life and financial well being.
Most people don't appreciate the danger posed until it's too late. Identity theft, data loss and stress are just part of the dangers. There is no excuse for not maintaining your antivirus and system protection solutions, spending a few pounds or dollars to protect yourself. Yet year after year, people fail to protect themselves and their data.
One simple rule, when you buy something as powerful as a computer, you really should learn how to use it, especially becuase it can so seriously affect your life. Computers are not a CD player or a microwave oven. They are a portal to your life. They can contain your banking information, memories, thoughts, history and a whole lot more. You wouldn't walk up to a complete stranger and hand over your wallet, memories and the deed to your house would you? Yet, when you don't protect your computer this is potentially what you may be doing every time you venture onto the Internet without protection.
The old rule "Caveat Emptor" has never been more true than it is now. Computers can be as much a curse as they are a boon. Prepare yourself for the worst.
I've often popped over to look at the affected system to find that the protection is several months, if not years out of date, the problem being that my friends thought that the virus stuff was part of the OS and that having it installed was enough. I firmly believe that any company selling solutions to the public should take responsibility for weaknesses in their systems. Apple are pretty good in that respect, however Microsoft fail all over the place.
The reality is that anyone who buys a car knows that they need to service their car on a regular basis. However people buy PCs thinking that these systems are like any other home appliances and that once purchased it'll take care of itself. The problem is they are potentially the most dangerous and intrusive of technologies, and in the wrong hands, information stolen from computers can potentially ruin your life and financial well being.
Most people don't appreciate the danger posed until it's too late. Identity theft, data loss and stress are just part of the dangers. There is no excuse for not maintaining your antivirus and system protection solutions, spending a few pounds or dollars to protect yourself. Yet year after year, people fail to protect themselves and their data.
One simple rule, when you buy something as powerful as a computer, you really should learn how to use it, especially becuase it can so seriously affect your life. Computers are not a CD player or a microwave oven. They are a portal to your life. They can contain your banking information, memories, thoughts, history and a whole lot more. You wouldn't walk up to a complete stranger and hand over your wallet, memories and the deed to your house would you? Yet, when you don't protect your computer this is potentially what you may be doing every time you venture onto the Internet without protection.
The old rule "Caveat Emptor" has never been more true than it is now. Computers can be as much a curse as they are a boon. Prepare yourself for the worst.
Labels: Computing, Protection, Virus solution
posted by Mario Georgiou @ 3:09 PM
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