Another reason to patch your PCs regularly
One of the chatboards I wander through on occasion is currently being blocked by a Denial of Service attack. In reading about the attack, I found a link to an article entitled The Attacks on GRC.COM (and no, there’s no relation between Gibson Research Company and me).
Anyway, it’s worth a read.
Either way, now that you’re thinking about it, you should:
- Run Windows Update or Apple Software Update to make sure your computer is running the latest software and security patches
- Make sure your virus software is up-to-date. (Or search for “free virus scan” on your favorite search engine and use one of the online scanners. Note: these usually only work on PCs, not Macs.)
- Make sure you’re running a good firewall — or at least check to make sure your computer’s covered. Visit Symantec’s homepage and click the “Symantec security check” link in the leftmost column for a check. (This does work on Macs.)
- RUN A BACKUP OF YOUR MOST IMPORTANT STUFF.
If you find something wrong, you don’t necessarily have to run out to the store right now and fix it (though if I were in your shoes I probably would), but PLEASE SHUT DOWN YOUR COMPUTER when you’re not using it if it’s not secure. A computer that has no power can neither be attacked nor attack others.
