One of the least serious security threats in most situations, spyware, or “adware”, often proves to be the most frustrating. Originally, the term referred to software that monitors a computer user without the user’s knowledge, but the term has expanded to include any program or cookie installed without the user’s knowledge. Spyware can be downloaded through browsers, and generally causes great amounts of slowdown. I won’t delve too far into it, since there’s already a great FineTuning article about spyware (See here for more details) As for general tips, I usually recommend using Mozilla rather than Internet Explorer since it’s a bit more secure, avoiding shady websites (we don’t have to mention what this entails, do we?) and using a program such as Ad-Aware or Spybot S&D if you need to get rid of resident spyware. Check with your tech before using spyware-removal programs on your business computer—some companies legally use their own spyware programs, and deleting them can be against company policy.
Viruses
Viruses are the classic computer-crushing culprit; they consist of a malicious bit of programming attached to a file. When the file’s launched, so is the virus, which carries out its function. This usually involves limiting or altogether destroying the functionality of your computer. It’s a common misconception that viruses can only be attached to executable files (*.exe files). While this was true at one point, skilled virus programmers have figured out ways to attach viruses to document files. These are called macroviruses, and because they exist, it’s no longer safe to open any file attached to an email or downloaded from a website without first scanning it with antivirus software. My personal recommendation is McAfee, which makes a range of great, unobtrusive software. The only catch is that they charge a small monthly fee for the most up to date form of their software.If you’re sure you’ve already got a virus, you might consider using F-Prot, a free DOS based utility that’s great for killing viruses effectively. There’s a link at the bottom of the page.