This month, we’re going to fill you in on the latest virus/spyware threats that are circulating on the Internet and what you can do to protect your computer from harm.  Keep in mind that the threat to your computer from these types of programs should be neither blown out of proportion nor dismissed out of hand.  As long as you practice several safe computing habits which we’ll discuss here, you shouldn’t have to worry too much about compromising your computer . . . but do keep in mind that these threats are real, new ones do spring up on a daily basic, and ignoring them or sweeping them under the proverbial rug isn’t a very good idea.

With that in mind, here’s the latest virus and spyware threats to your computer.  You can click on the links below for more information about each virus.

Stration – a virus that sends itself as an E-mail pretending to be from a computer system administrator informing you that you have a virus on your computer.  The message will contain an attachment and ask you to double-click on that attachment to remove the virus and clean your computer.  Note:  while we may send customers an E-mail message letting them know that we have detected virus activity coming from their computer, we will never include an attachment and ask the customer to run that file.  We will always ask the customer to either call our technical support number for instructions on how to remove the virus or take their computer to a trusted computer professional to remove it.

BackDoor – this virus will also send itself as an E-mail, but it will come disguised as an order confirmation advising you that you have ordered a laptop computer.  An “order summary” will be attached disguised as a .PDF file that you can view with Adobe Reader software; when the recipient double-clicks that file, it executes the code that infects the computer with the virus.

Wikedir – this virus will also send itself as an E-mail, and it will be disguised as a notice that a message did not go through its mail server.  It will have an attachment file that you can click on “for more information” which then acts as its own self-contained mail server and sends the same message to everyone in your address book.

In addition to these virus threats, there are also several spyware threats that replicate through E-mails and visits to Web sites.  Anti-spyware programs such as Spybot, Ad-Aware, and HijackThis all provide both information on these threats and information about how to get rid of them.  In addition, the company that makes Ad-Aware, Lavasoft, provides a very good information page about what spyware is and what you can do to prevent it.

You will also want to be aware of security vulnerabilities that exist in the software on your computer.  Many of these exist within your version of Windows or your Internet Explorer browser software; some exist in other programs.

So what can you do to protect your computer from all these threats?  Here’s some tips that you can use to keep your computing experience problem-free.

a      Have anti-virus software installed on your computer, and make sure that you are receiving the latest updates to your virus definitions.  Since new viruses can appear on close to a daily basis, you should make sure that at any time you have the definitions to find those viruses and take care of them.  McAfee, Symantec, and AVG are all anti-virus programs that you can install on your computer and configure to automatically update their virus definitions as often as you like (the program will contact the company’s Web server and download the updates right to your computer).

a      It’s also a good idea to install anti-spyware software (such as the examples we described above) and keep it updated regularly.  Often viruses and spy programs are considered separate threats, and software designed to take care of one may not work to remove the other.  If you have both types of software installed (and keep them updated regularly), you’re much better off than to just choose one or the other.

a      Use the Windows Update feature that comes with your version of Windows on a regular basis.  With most versions of Windows XP, you can set up this feature to automatically download and install updates; otherwise, you can find it on your list of programs in the Start menu, or go to Microsoft's Windows Update Web site to download the updates manually.  Note:  you must be using Internet Explorer as your browser to go to the Web site.  These updates will patch known security holes in the Windows operating system and Internet Explorer browser.  If you use other Microsoft applications, you can update them as well by visiting this site.

a      And last but not least, be careful when you open your E-mail.  Don’t open attachments in messages unless you are absolutely sure that you trust the person who is sending you the file.  Even then, be aware that viruses can spoof E-mail addresses to look like they’re coming from someone you trust, so be on your toes.  If something doesn’t look right, it probably isn’t.

Viruses, spyware, and security holes can be very troublesome for Internet users, but with a little prevention, common sense, and computer care, you can minimize the trouble they cause and keep your Internet experience a safe and happy one.

If you have any questions at all about viruses, spyware, or security holes, our trained technicians at HunTel.net® are available and are happy to assist you.  You can contact us by phone at 402-533-5777 (Washington County and Omaha) or 1-888-491-9115 (toll free throughout our service area); by E-mail at techsupport@huntel.net; or through our live support chat service at http://www.huntel.net.  Normal support hours are 8:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m., Central time, 7 days a week.

Thank you for using HunTel.net!