- Install all security patches on your PC, especially Win2000 and XP.
- Have an updated version of your anti-virus (every day or better every hour).
- Have an firewall or activate the Windows XP firewall
- Use an anti-spyware program (ad-aware by example)
Some advice about viruses :
- NEVER open an attachement with a executable extension :
vbs exe com bat pif lnk php scr dll js zip
- Always verify if some characters are placed just after the end of the filename (be careful of the difference between 'image.jpg' and 'image.jpg .lnk'
- NEVER open a message that promise you a "wonderful" thing, especially girls pictures... Sex 'sites' could be dangerous because they are very commercialy aggressive.
- NEVER click on anything in a message
- NEVER answer to spam. They use some scripts to install Trojan horses and spywares on your PC.
- take care who sent you the message, take care to the UNDERSCORE at the beginning of the address
- always destroy a message with a malformed email address, subject, text.
- have an up-to-date resident antivirus with a signature less than one month (if possible), one week is better. You could hope to be protected by an antivirus with a signature files 10 days older than the day you receive an attached file.
- take care to messages from unknown people
- always deactivate the macro in Word.
- don't use Outlook Express or Full version, prefer Mozilla ( http://www.mozilla.org )because it is safer and less attacked
- don't use Microsoft Internet Explorer or Full version, prefer Mozilla because it is safer and less attacked
- prefer the OpenOffice.org ( http://www.openoffice.org) suite (that don't use the macros) instead of Microsoft Office.
- write down to the disk each attachement (doc) and scan it with the antivirus
- NEVER open an attached file by clicking over it. The virus could have modified the program to run it. Prefer to open by yourself the program and open the file in that program (by ex. open Word then in Word open the file)
- exchange files in txt or rtf format for the revisable forms, pdf for the others. Openoffice.org exports all Office format in pdf.
- NEVER ALERT people if you suspect that you pc is infected. That spreads the virus.
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Some advice for the backup :
- Have a separation between living data and programs. Use a unique root directory for all you your data. Under it, have a directory for daily data, for monthly data. Think to separate them having in mind the frequency of your copies.
- r0 : volatile data (temporary copies, caches...)
- r1 : your system scripts
- r2 : your living data
- r3 : archives – to be copied at each additions
- r4 : cd-rom on disk, disk images, downloaded programs
- Have a copy system, diskettes, CDROM
- Use at least THREE consecutive copies. For example, one each week. With the possibility to have an additional copy during the week for important modifications. NEVER trust diskettes or single copies.
- If possible, save long term copies far from your PC
- If you don't have CD Writer, use a second PHYSICAL (and better external) disk, even an old one. If possible zip your data directory (r2) on it.
- If it is not possible, create a directory out of the Windows directory to save them. Give it the hidden attribute.
- If possible, have your data on a second partition (drive D:) and your programs on drive C:. You can so easily reinstall your PC without losing your data.
- Save on paper a copy of your VITAL files. Have a copy of your parameters (communication, passwords, phone numbers)
- Save on a separate directory (disk if possible) each time you add programs, a copy of user.dat, system.dat of the Windows directory.
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Some general advice :
- Don't load too much plays or programs on a production machine.
- Never share your disk on P2P networks (kazaa, napster, gnutella...)
- Don't let children use your PC.
- Caution when you uninstall programs. Prefer to leave the common files on the disk.
- Don't try every program you receive.
- Unplug your modem (especially ADSL) when you don't use it. Drop the connection automatically after 10 minutes of silence.
- Have always an eye on the LED of your modem to know what the PC do.
- Have in mind that your PC will not start tomorrow... Be paranoid.
Serge Tomé
Information Systems manager