Security for all computer users:
consumers are on the front lines of a pending cyberwar
By Jim Prendergast

Whether you are a first-time computer owner setting up a new system or an experienced user updating your equipment, don't let the excitement of the newness cause you to overlook a vital matter for your new machine -- security.

The recent wave of worm and virus attacks that infected hundreds of thousands of computers worldwide shows how vulnerable computer networks are and why cyber-security is more important than ever. No longer just a concern of the corporate world or computer geeks, cyber-security must become a national priority, with consumers doing their part because, like it or not, consumers are on the front lines of a pending cyberwar. Hackers aren't as likely to attack corporate networks that have spent billions on security as they are to target average consumers who are so excited to get that new computer set up and running that they ignore attention to security.

By following a few simple steps, you can dramatically decrease your risk of becoming a victim whose computer is used to spread viruses.

The first and most important step in self-protection is to install and keep virus software up to date. Many new computers already come preloaded with a trial version of antivirus software that can be renewed online from Norton or McAfee, while other software is available at local retailers. Once virus software is installed, be sure to update it on a regular basis and schedule scans of your computer at least once a week.

For added safety, activate or install a firewall.

A firewall monitors all incoming traffic to your computer and lets in only communication that your computer trusts and needs. Some advanced firewalls will stop your computer, if infected, from calling out to the Internet and infecting others. Some equipment, such as Microsoft XP, comes with a firewall installed, but other good products from Norton, McAfee and Zone Labs are also available.

As a rule of thumb, always use caution when reading e-mail messages.

When in doubt, DELETE. Do not open e-mail or e-mail attachments from people you don't know. Viruses are increasingly spread by use of cute-sounding attachments. When opened, these programs launch an attack on your computer and use applications such as your e-mail program to attack others.

One of the most disruptive attacks to date was the so-called "Love" virus, the name resulting from the attacking e-mail message that read, "I love you." Millions of people apparently thought a complete stranger was in love with them.

Another focus of concern for computer users is the growing nuisance of spam, the flood of unsolicited e-mail that clogs our e-mail boxes daily, hawking everything from mortgage refinancing and herbal Viagra to pornography.

Here are a few tips that consumers can follow to limit the amount of spam they receive:

• Know to whom you give your email address and what they will do with it. Read privacy policies of Web sites where you enter your address.
• Use multiple addresses. Dedicate one address for business, one for friends, and another "disposable" address for everything else. That way, you can "turn of F' the third if it becomes a target of spam.
• Pick a unique address that makes it difficult for the spammer's software to guess. For example, "3johnx5_smith" is more difficult to guess than "johnsmith."
• Report spam to the Federal Trade Commission by forwarding it to uce @ ftc.gov, your Internet Service Provider, and the sender's Internet Service Provider.

These tips won't solve all your spam and security problems, but they will reduce your exposure. And they are something you can do today -- part and parcel to good cyber-security--that all work together. But to be effective, you first must use them. You wouldn't send your kindergartner off to the first day of school without the proper immunizations. And you wouldn't take to the roadways in your car without buckling up. It's second nature--and just plain common sense--to take these prudent, cautionary steps. We should all apply these same standards of security when we power up our computers.

Copyright 2004 Gale Group, Inc. ASAP Copyright 2004 Saturday Evening Post Society Saturday Evening Post May 1, 2004,
BYLINE: Jim Prendergast, Jim Prendergast is the executive director of Americans for Technology Leadership.