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Vigilance the key to a healthy PC
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Unfortunately, the Internet has become an inhospitable and sinister place. A host of bad people—with political, personal and financial motives—seek every day to disrupt, control and otherwise hinder the vast majority of legitimate Internet users.
There actually are several types of malicious code that can damage a computer. Experts argue over precise definitions. As a group, this software is called "malware," which includes spyware, Trojan horses, viruses and worms. To make matters worse, various forms of malware can be combined into what may best be described as destructive cocktails.
Viruses are among the most nefarious types of malware. Leonard defines them as programs or codes that are self-replicating and attach themselves and damage other programs. The old saying that an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure is nowhere more true than on the Internet. By far the best way to fight viruses is to keep them off your computer. That, of course, requires the use of anti-virus software. These programs are available from a number of companies. Some of the biggest names are McAfee, Symantec, Trend Micro and the ubquitous Microsoft. 
The most important thing to keep in mind is that anti virus software must be kept up to date. When such software is purchased, the buyer has a right—usually for a year—to download updates. This must be done religiously. Leonard says that people often assume that once they buy the software they are protected. Unfortunately, this isn’t true.
Virus writers are a busy lot. New viruses emerge on a daily basis. Virus protection that is not regularly updated offers continues to offer basic protection against older viruses--a good thing, because many viruses are recycled--but becomes increasingly ineffective against newer versions. A user who thinks their machine is fully protected is setting themselves up for a nasty and potentially costly surprise.
If all precautions fail and the PC is infected with a virus, the owner can do one of two things: enlist the help of the professionals or try to fix it yourself. There are various issues to consider when making this decision. Bringing the machine to a repair facility obviously means that it will be out of commission for some period of time. On the other hand, trying to cure a virus yourself can be a tricky and potentially dangerous business. The biggest risk is making a mistake that exacerbates the problem and, possibly, paralyzes the machine. If the user is relatively computer savvy, they can search for the virus, download the removal software, start the computer is safe mode and run the software. If successful this could solve the problem.
Regardless, it is important that home office workers have a backup system. There are several parts to the backup. Of course, it includes a machine. The PC or laptop that is used in case the primary machine goes down must have the right drivers to hook to the Internet necessary peripheral devices such as printers. The home office worker must know how to get up and operating. Finally, he or she must have backup copies of key data. Such copies can be on removable disks, storage devices or online services. The key is to create a situation in which the primary machine's (hopefully temporary) demise becomes an inconvenience that costs a few hours--and not a crisis that grinds work to a halt for several days.
No matter how good a plan you create--and how well PC experts and other outsiders perform their job--a lapse in computer security is a guaranteed to be a headache. The only question is whether it will be a big headache or a small one. There are thousands of sources on the Internet aimed at helping secure home (and home office) computers.
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