My security worries (and
yours,too!) 
With all the news about security breaches at Target,
Neiman-Marcus and other retail outlets, I finally decided that I could no longer
avoid facing the truth: my 18-month old computer is getting slower - fast. And
despite a host of home-remedy security-boosting efforts, I was still get too
much general junk and pop-ups (even though my settings supposedly “block”
them!). Worse, I frequently found myself having to restart my computer to get
back on kilter . . . a symptom of a growing potential for a system
crash.
Like me, you've probably had
anti-virus software installed since your computer was new.
But like most “do it yourself” software, Norton (or McAfee or Other) is only as
savvy as the user (you and me). And since I’m not technically savvy enough, I
can't maximize the benefits. When I told a friend that it was just
"
a $60 icon that sits there giving me a false sense of security," he
laughed. But the more I think about it, I know that for me, it's a true
statement.
A video overview of the problem (via The Today
Show).
A few weeks ago, this video was on The
Today
Show. It will quickly help you understand the severity of the security
problems we all share:
(Click
here)
The most
common types of malware.
The major types of
malware
(e.g., "Adware," "Bot," "Bug," "Ransomware," etc.) are
highlighted in this brief, clear article:
(Click
here)
The video and article above make it clear:
if anyone thinks that their computer is not infected, they’re in
denial. While a brand new computer is a "clean slate," it starts
to pick up unwanted "stuff" as soon as you download the
initial software.
Eliminating
malware problems.
After spending way too much
time reading about – and trying to do – a variety of do-it-yourself security
“fixes,” I decided to get help from “real people” at an online security company.
I spoke with them on the phone and checked their credentials. Once I chose one,
I bought a two-year plan and got started.
Like any tech administrator, the security person had to take remote control
of my system. In about three hours, they removed (“cleaned”) out a lot of
debris. Not all "junk" can be removed, though, since all of those downloads
made over time add up, and each brings in unwanted items.
Today, I do
find that my start-up speed, pop-ups and restarts are somewhat improved. And I
now understand that I need to be even more meticulous about what I download and
where I "register" for information, services or shopping.
Summary
This
post barely presents the tip of the tip of the iceberg regarding computer
security issues. Hopefully, it has at least raised your awareness of a problem
that exists and is growing. If you decide to get the type of hands-on security
help that I did, I encourage you to read reviews and ask Customer Service
people lots of questions before choosing.
Note: I hesitate to
give security company referrals because I'm still a student of solutions. A
good resource for recommendations is
Consumer Reports which rates several options.
Or, you might consider using Best Buy's Geek Squad or another local tech
specialist. I will continue to investigate and report any new
findings!
Coming
soon!
In an upcoming
issue of Elwell Money Minder, I will cover ways you can avoid getting
malware. It’s never too late to start using Best
Practices.
