Week 6 Internet Security

I doubt anyone who uses a computer today has not experienced the agony of having to deal with viruses, trojans, spyware, adware and worms, the very essences of Internet and computer that make the experience sour and frustrating.

I remember the first time i dealt with viruses was when I was still a kid. Not knowing one thing from another, computer was basically something for me to play Lemmings and other games that have long gone into the records of history. It was this particular time I kept clicking on something (I can't remember what), and it just wouldn't load. So I called for my father, who was also helpless, who in turn got my uncle to come, and shed light on my first virus encounter. But being a kid, explaining virus to me was telling me what a benzene ring is at the age of 11.

So there came my first 'real' encounter was when my computer really malfunctioned. Turning it on was already a problem. So my uncle came once again to my rescue, and yes, at that time, I learnt to hate virus just like everyone else.

But to those virus originators, it seems like fun, to watch people's system falter one by one, and pardon me for my lack of sensitivity, they are no more better than serial killers.

Then after the encounter of not being able to turn on my computer, came adware, spyware, trojans that pop up every now and then to disturb my peace. Despite the installation of firewalls and anti-virus programs, they don't seem to stop. And for once, I did not know what download is, so I really have no idea what these things are doing in my computer.

So the verdict is, programs like these do have a certain lifespan because they are smart, but unfortunately 'serial killers' are smarter. Which is why we need even more smart people to come up with better firewalls, anti-virus programs or perhaps something even better to combat these things.

How nice wouldn't it be, if we have a program that is able to trace the origins of these annoying programs, and when they do find the source, turn it against them? But i'm sure they have their own way of destroying what they create in case it backfires or something...

But until then, I guess

1. Install Firewalls
2. Install anti-virus programs
3. Update these programs regularly to protect against new threats
4. avoid opening unknown emails
5. even with known email address, still take precautions when opening them
6. avoid downloading from dubious websites
7. don't disclose passwords or identification to others

will have to do.