Virus Protection Pointers
I have preferred anti-virus software I use, but whether you contract a computer virus comes down to these factors:
- Keep
the virus definitions up to date. If definitions are not downloaded
automatically, manually download them yourself once a week.
- Keep
your subscription to virus definitions up to date. An expired
subscription means that you are no longer protected from newly created
and discovered viruses.
- Never update a subscription online.
Buy a new copy of the software from the store. Something always seems
to go wrong when updating your subscription via the Internet. If you
need to re-load your anti-virus software, it is much easier from a CD
than trying to download the software again. Also, you may qualify for a
rebate if you have a CD from the previous version that serves as a
proof of previous ownership.
- Make sure a virus scan runs at least once a week. A virus scan scheduled for when your computer is turned off, is a missed scan.
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Backup and Recovery - Notice the term recovery. If you don't test your backup by trying to read it,
 the backup is useless. Did the backup succeed? Can I read the files from the backup? Are the files I need, part of the backup?
- Is
the backup stored in a safe place? If your laptop is connected to the
external hard drive you are using for your backup, do you think the
thief that steals your laptop will take your external hard drive too?
- Are
you sure that your emails, calendar, address book, tasks and notes from
Outlook are backed up? Copying the outlook data file (*.pst), is not
the way to go. You should export your files to a backup file using the
built in Outlook export utility and make sure your backup procedure
copies this file to the backup media.
- Don't put off
backing up your priceless stuff because you think it is going to be
expensive or time consuming. A USB Flash Drive can be had for less than
$20. It is possible to automate the procedure so that it occurs late at
night while you are asleep.
High Tech House Calls has
25 years + of designing, implementing and testing backup and recovery
procedures. Let us help you with yours so you can sleep better at night. |
