He looked at “definition files” listed by Symantec and found millions. But, they don’t represent new viruses, they just indicate how many battles the anti-malware company has fought.

Turns out, there aren’t that many new viruses out there. But what’s there can rip your computer to virtual pieces.

Malware, which is short for malicious software, sneaks onto your computer (or phone or tablet) without your knowledge and, if your computer is unprotected, it will do pretty much whatever it was designed to do.

Some malware is just annoying, and then there are Darth Vader-ish programs that take your files and sink them so far into a black hole, they’re never found again.

Here’s what you need to do and not do to protect your computer:

Do keep your firewall on at all times. Firewalls may be built into your computer or they may be pieces of hardware you hook up to your computer. The firewall filters what comes in from the Internet and only allows safe programs in (in theory). To be very safe, you can have two firewalls working, one hardware and the other software.

Do automate the updating process on your computer so that it stays current. New malware does circulate and you want the latest protection available to prevent infection.

Do use a quality anti-malware program that acts as your army against the invading hordes, should they get past the firewall.

Do perform frequent scans of your computer to ensure that it is free of malware, or to alert you if there’s an infection. And do scan with anti-adware in addition to the anti-virus/malware program, just in case the malware is trying to mask itself.

Do backup every day. This can be set up as an automated process, just like the updates and scans. If you find yourself skipping some days (weeks, months), call us and we’ll share some horror stories. Really. You won’t be able to sleep at night.

Do reach out to a computer service person for help if you’re unsure of how to do any of this. Your professional and personal files are important to you, and you want to be the one to decide whether you’re keeping them or deleting them.

Don’t open email that looks like spam, and even if it’s an email from someone you know, don’t open an attachment unless you were expecting it. It’s possible that your friend’s email program has been hijacked and the attachment carries malware.

Don’t visit websites you’re not sure about, and don’t click on any links on such sites.

Don’t share your personal information online unless you’re sure of where it’s going. And then double-check that source before giving your info.

There are more advanced steps you can take to protect your computer, or to check it if you suspect it’s infected. When you’ve done everything you know how to do, it wouldn’t hurt to have your computer technician take a look to tweak it if necessary.

If you have more ideas on how to protect computers, please share in the comments. We’d love to read them!

By Danny Tehrani

Image courtesy of Sophos

Data loss is one of the greatest technical issues that any business or individual can face. In a matter of seconds, data can be lost due to natural disaster, computer malfunction, or loss of power. For some this can mean loss of treasured family photos, resumes or other important personal information; for business in can mean the end of your credibility. In an age where everything is run by computers and data is being transmitted in such high volumes every second, the importance of backing up data has never been greater.

The definition of data backup is simple. It means to store all important and pertinent data in a place where it can be accessed at any time and in case of an emergency. As mentioned above, for some individuals this can mean storing pictures or memories in a safe place. For businesses this often means storing copies of financial records, client information, and your actual work if it is digital. Many companies have actually gone out of business from losing their data.

Is Your Data in the Cloud?  It Should Be!

There are a variety of back up options out there to choose from. They range from a simple external hard drive, to software that can be installed on your computer that uploads your information automatically to a secure set of servers in the cloud. It is vital to store back up files in an off-site location, in addition to having a readily-accessible local copy. This protects against a natural disaster, plumbing flood or theft. Backing up once a month may not be enough either, so actively engaging software can continuously backup your data if needed.

Having at least one backup copy of all of your data is vital, but we recommend a local and cloud based copy for ultimate security. Speak with our staff today to find out what is available and recommended for your situation, and let us automate your backup process. That way you will know your current data is secure, and that it will remain so into the future.

We Are Standing By!

The team at Computers Made Easy is more than happy to talk to you and your company about the data backup options available to you.

Use our contact form after hours or give us a call to find out more today!

Having a blog in your website is a key element for search engines and for keeping clients and other visitors updated, and while we were at it we converted the entire website to WordPress to be easier to edit, upgradeable, updateable and more secure.

Moving Forward

As we launch into 2011 and our 27th year of business in the Portland region, we’re proud to announce many more services finally known to our clients, friends, vendors and others who should know us in our region. We are looking forward to a great year here at Computers Made Easy, with many new irons in the fire and our core competencies cooking along as well. There’s more coming soon and we will be adding much more information over the coming weeks & months, so stay tuned, but hope you like the new website!

We hope you have a very prosperous 2011.

The Team @ Computers Made Easy