Updating AntiVirus
THE SCENARIO
Joe got a laptop several months ago. It came with a preinstalled trial version of antivirus software. Over the past few weeks, Joe has noticed that he can’t connect to the Internet consistently any more, and his machine is running incredibly slow. When he takes his laptop in for a checkup, he is shocked to learn that his machine has no current virus protection and is infested with viruses, worms, and spyware. What happened?
THE SYMPTOMS
- You have poor or no connection to the Internet
- Your computer is running very slowly
- Your homepage in your browser is set to something else
- Your files are corrupt
THE KNOWLEDGE
Antivirus software expires! Even though antivirus software may come with your computer, it is usually a trial version. It may work and be updated for a time (usually 60 days), but at the end of the trial period it expires. If you do not sign up and pay for a subscription, you will not receive updates. This leaves your computer vulnerable to attack.
Viruses, worms, and spyware constantly change. These malware are constantly being created and changed to bypass antivirus software. If your antivirus software is not up to date with the latest virus definitions, there is a good chance you will be infected.
If you are a home user, check with your IT staff on seeing if you can get a remote copy of your company’s AV program. If you are in a corporate environment, make sure you have a server that is up to date and licensed so it can push out the newest definition files.
Myke Schwartz, PEI
