Attack and Defence

	Contents
Quick Fix	Not Sure Which Way to Turn?  Start Here
Attack	The Hows and Whats of Computer Infection
Defence	The Immune System - your Responses to Attack
Weapons	Inoculation and  What Tablets to Keep Taking :
Table 1	Freeware Protection Suite
Table 2	Protection Against Spyware
Table 3	Protection Against Spam
Table 4	Privacy Protection Procedures
Table 5	Avoiding Worms
Table 6	Problematic Software
Table 7	Zone Settings in Internet Explorer 6
Table 8	Encryption Methods

To Hit Back, Start Here

                Maybe  you don't have time to trawl through all  these pages at the moment (but please make time to do so later).  Maybe you're not after a detailed discussion of the issues. You may simply want to know how to make your surfing safe immediately. So here  is a shortlist of the basic means by which this can be achieved, and with no cash outlay. If you do not have, or do not yet carry out, anything in Table 0 below, please follow the instructions. Think of its contents as a mouth-wash : it's for your benefit, but it also protects others. To be of any value, it has to be used daily and  in its proper place.

Secure the Perimeter	a, b, c
Search & Destroy	d, e
Sentry Duty	b, f, g
Exercises	h

Table  0                                          Absolute Minimum Precautions
Application Type            Info		Advice	Suggestion
a. Virus Scanner		Get, run,  and update daily	AVG #1.11
b. Firewall		Get, run permanently and keep up to date	Zone Alarm. #1.6
c. OS Updates and Patches		Windows Updates - download all those labelled critical	Patch Download Site
d. Ad Remover		Get rid of commercial gunk	AdAware #1.8
e. Parasite  Cleaner		Search out and  destroy known pests	SpyBot  #1.10
f. Browser Settings		Make Internet Explorer safe	Table 7
g. Outlook Express		Check ALL email attachments before  opening	Advice!
h. Test your Defences		When you're set up, check everything is in order	System Tests

 

  The safety of the people is the highest law.