My lecture note on safe computing, circa 2004. Reposted for the notes on SIRCAM virus.

1. Jabatan Kesihatan Masyarakat
Cheapskate's Guide to a
Safe PC
Dr Azmi Mohd Tamil

2. ©
Introduction
• http://www.wired.com/news/print/0,
1294,62222,00.html
• MyDoom virus-laden e-mails may no
longer be clogging inboxes, but each
of those infected computers now
contains a backdoor that allows any
malicious hacker with a modicum of
technical skills to remotely access
and control the infected machines.

3. ©
Data Protection
• From Viruses - explorer.zip, SirCam,
Nimda, MyDoom
• From Spyware
• Malicious Intrusion - hackers,
crackers, use of trojan viruses
• Unplanned Disasters - need for
backups

4. ©
Protection From Intrusion
• First up, firewalls. If you're only going to
run one security application, then make it
a firewall, which acts as a sort of
watchdog for your computer, alerting you
to and blocking the entrance or exit of
unwelcome visitors.
• ZoneAlarm is the most popular free
firewall.
• Agnitum's Outpost free firewall is easy to
install and uses plug-in software modules
to add to or enhance its features.

5. ©
Data Protection
• http://www.wired.com/news/print/0,1294,45581,00.html
• In Order to Have Your Advice
• By Jon Rochmis
• 2:00 a.m. July 27, 2001 PDT
• “And, by the way, hats off to the FBI guy who
opened the SirCam virus. His computer
proceeded to send the virus -- and random FBI
documents -- to e-mail addresses stored in his
computer as well as throughout the entire
National Infrastructure Protection Center, which,
it just so happens, was established to protect the
United States' computer networks.”

6. ©
Data Protection

7. ©
Protection From Viruses
• Install a good anti-virus program
• Update it daily if possible, if not
every fortnight
• Update yourself on virus information
ie http://www.wired.com, http://www.cert.org
• Never ever click on an attachment
esp .exe, .bat, .vbs, .lnk, .pif, sent
via e-mail, unless you’re expecting it

8. ©
Anti Virus
• Free antivirus applications are also available, but
brand-new viruses can and do slip past scanners
until companies can analyze the new virus's code
and release an upgrade that will block it. Given
that limitation, antivirus tools are good at
protecting computers against known viruses, but
should never be considered bulletproof.

9. ©
Spy-Ware
• You've checked your computer for viruses but
you're still struggling with application crashes,
slowed performance, slews of pop-up ads even
when you're not browsing the Web, a home or
start page that's been changed to some odd
search site, or other "ghost in the machine" sorts
of mishaps, chances are your computer harbors
spyware, adware or a Trojan Horse.
• All of these programs purport to be some useful
or fun tool, but actually hand over some level of
control over your computer to an outside entity.

10. ©
Anti Spy-Ware
• The best program to handle spyware or
Trojans is Spybot-Search & Destroy.
Spybot effectively and easily removes
virtually every sneaky piece of software in
existence. Run it weekly.
• I myself uses Lavasoft Ad-Aware.

11. ©
Avoid Microsoft
• Last but not least, one of the best all-
around free security tools is Mozilla's
browser and e-mail applications. Since so
many viruses, worms and Internet
exploits are aimed at Microsoft
applications, switching to these open-
source programs can help you avoid
problems.
• The browser also has built-in pop-up
blocking and advanced, configurable
privacy and security tools.

12. ©
Data Protection

13. ©
Disaster Recovery
• Use of data backup software
• Use of data replication software
• If possible, store backups off-site
• Duplicating data (mirroring) using 2
powerful servers, one sited off-site
• “Hot-site” mirroring

14. ©
Data Safekeeping
• Repositories. These are responsible for
holding data and other information assets
and preparing them for reuse.

15. ©
Conclusion
• The use of computers in education
has improved the learning &
education process.
• But without the proper strategies or
precautions, it may impede
education, instead of helping us.

16. Jabatan Kesihatan Masyarakat
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