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REALTOR® ASSOCIATION EXECUTIVE
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|  Virus Protection: How AEs Keep Their Computers Safe Computer viruses are a growing threat. Estimates are that in its first two days, the “MyDoom” virus, hit 142 countries, and was found in one in 12 e-mail messages. Despite anti-virus software, associations report they still catch viruses. Here are some best practices to keep your computer systems healthy, gathered from Realtor® associations nationwide. 1. Update anti-virus software daily. Major software vendors offered updated protection against the MyDoom virus just hours after the outbreak. 2. Set anti-virus software to update automatically. Use your software’s “live update” mode. 3. Scan twice. Periodically use another brand or type of virus software to scan your computers. They may catch problems your daily anti-virus scan-ner doesn’t. Access an anti-spam software buyers’ guide at www.nwfusion.com/ bg/2003/spam/-index.jsp 4. Triple layer your virus protection. Make sure you have virus protection from your e-mail host, on your server, and on each computer in your office. 5. Delete all unexpected attachments. It’s getting harder to tell if attachments are legitimate or not. Virus hacks can “spoof” the name of the sender so an e-mail seems like it’s from someone you know and has an innocuous subject line like “your bill.” 6. Quarantine attachments. Have your e-mail client automatically send all attachments to an “attachments” folder so they can be opened only after careful review. 7. Avoid the preview pane. Some viruses can be launched without ever opening the e-mail if your e-mail client’s preview pane is in use. (New patches can solve this problem on Outlook.) 8. Install a firewall. This type of hardware or software examines data passing into and out of your computer or network and discards it if it doesn’t meet criteria you set. Many firewalls are easy to configure and inexpensive. Shop at www.firewallguide.com/software.htm 9. Consider alternatives to Microsoft and Outlook Express. Nearly all viruses are written to work only on Microsoft Windows and Outlook. The only thing Macintosh users got from “MyDoom” was annoyed. Alternatives to Outlook include Eudora (www.eudora.com), Mozilla (www.mozilla.org), and Mulberry (www.cyrusoft.com/mulberry). 10. Know what’s lurking online. Log onto www.symantec.com for daily updates on virus outbreaks and newly issued patches for your Microsoft software. 11. Secure your network. Shut down any unused network ports and turn off network access to computers not in use. Also, keep classroom computers that members use off your staff computer network. 12. Educate your members and staff about virus protection. Realize that even with protection, you’re not totally protected. Start relying more on education and sound practices than your virus scanners. 13. Use passwords. If you don’t have a password on your computers and network systems, you’re leaving your computer open to be accessed and controlled remotely. Also, use an administrator’s password to lock the antivirus interface on staff and classroom computers so they can’t be turned off. 14. Try a Web-based e-mail scanning service. Ideal for smaller offices, these services scan and store your e-mail on remote servers until you choose what gets forwarded to your computer—no installing software or downloading frequent updates. See buyers’ guide at: www.nwfusion.com/bg/2003/spam/results.jsp?category =Service Click here to Send feedback on this article. |
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