Computer virus infections are the most serious online threat. And getting more dangerous all the time. You need to protect your computer against all threats. By May 2005 Symantec Corporation, one of the leaders in computer security, compiled a list of 69,595 viruses they've detected. And that's just viruses. It doesn't include their cousins worms, trojans, backdoors, zombies, dialers, exploits or dozens of other dangerous programs. Most of us just call any dangerous and unwanted program a virus. Computer techies use the term 'Malware' (from Malevolent Software) to describe viruses and the other threats. No matter what we call them, you don't want them.

All of us have heard of someone's computer becoming infected, most of us have been unlucky enough to be that someone. A study by AOL and National Security Computer Alliance found 8 of 10 computers are infected with unwanted or dangerous programs. A virus or other dangerous script that successfully installs itself on your computer has taken control of your machine away from you. You can't afford to risk infection while online. The virus will use your computer to do what it wants, and they never want to do something to help you.

Eugene Kaspersky, founder of Kaspersky Lab, said recently "On the last count of malware I did, only 10 percent was written by teenagers. Ninety percent is developed by criminals. This malware is designed for criminal needs such as stealing money, distributing spam and Internet rackets." The FBI agrees: "Organized criminal enterprises using the Internet for fraudulent activities present a significant and increasing criminal threat in the cyber arena." Great. Tony Soprano has gone virtual and will break your kneecap online.

What can a virus do to your computer? Some of the most common threats from malware attacks include:

• Identity Theft these are programs designed to send your personal information like credit card numbers and bank accounts to someone who intends to steal your money.
• Spyware & Adware want to know what you do and where you go online. Some spyware intends to steal your identity, other programs load your computer with ads and send information about your online activities to advertisers.
• Dialers take control of your computer's modem, or VOIP (telephone service using the Internet) and call the 900 numbers that charge you by the minute while you are connected. Most of the companies who own the 900 numbers are overseas. If you want to keep your telephone service, your phone company will make you pay the entire bill. You're on your own to figure out how to identify who it was who stole your money, where they are and how to sue to get your money back. Good luck.
• Mass mailers are programs that take control of your computer's email system. Most mass mailers send themselves to everyone in your address book. New versions of these are designed to attack large computer systems owned by corporations or governments. Hackers try to take control of the large systems by overwhelming them with email. Sometimes the hackers want to steal huge databases of personal information and sometimes they just want to make the large system crash so it can't be used.
• Trojans and backdoors are similiar. These programs work on the same idea as the Trojan horse. They offer you something appealing to get you to install them on your computer. After you've opened the gates of your firewall and let them in, trojans attack you from inside your computer. Trojans open the gates to all sorts of other dangerous programs - everyone that wants to attack you can now get into your computer. Backdoors are a very dangerous type of trojan that are designed to steal your identity.
• Worms are programs that don't really meet the definition of a virus, but they're dangerous and you need protection. A virus is a program that requires you to do something like open a file for it to attack you. Worms reproduce and transmit themselves between computers without requiring a file, so they spread without requiring any help from the computer user.
• Programs that try to destroy your data. No real benefit to the hacker, it just let's him be mean.
• Programs that fill your computer with pornography or other dangerous material. A dangerous new threat is for pornographers to access your computer to store their files. Then, they can tell all the other pornographers on the Internet where to go to download the files. Your computer becomes a hub to distribute pornography.
• Tools to let other hackers write and distribute more viruses and malware. What better way to cover your tracks than to use a little old ladies' computer to distribute your virus?

There are some practical steps you can take to protect yourself from viruses:

• Keep your Windows software up-to-date. In your start menu is an icon that connects your computer to Microsoft's web site. Microsoft can scan your computer to see if there is updated software available. Windows Update should be set to automatically check for updates every few days. Microsoft has instructions here.
• Keep your Instant Messaging & chat software up-to-date. The program's developers update their programs as they learn of new threats from hackers. Most programs will let you set an option to have the program automatically check for updates. You should set it to check every few days.
• Install good firewall software and keep it up-to-date. Most programs will automatically check for updates. You should set it to check every few days.
• Install good a anti-virus software program and keep it up to date. All antivirus programs require frequent updates to protect you against new threats. You should set your program to check for updates every day. Antivirus programs are sold with a subscription to the updates. Most programs include a year's update subsription with the software. The software will remind you when it is time to renew.

Our favorite anti-virus program is Kaspersky Lab's Anti-Virus Personal Pro 5.0. Anti-Virus Personal Pro is an excellent program adapted from Karpersky's corporate security packages. It has many excellent advanced features offering outstanding protection, but many home & small office computer users will find the numerous options complex. If you don't have a computer savvy friend who can help you set up the Pro version, Kaspersky Lab offers a version designed for home users, Anti-Virus Personal 5.0. This version offers a simplified control panel that makes set up easier. You still get excellent protection against viruses, but you can't fine tune as many options.

Another program we like is Panda Software's Titanium Antivirus 2005. Many of our home user customers get great protection with Panda. Titanium Antivirus uses Panda's TruPrevent Technologies to protect you from all types of viruses, worms, Trojans and spyware. TruPrevent protection is a heuristic approach to identifying new threats designed to protect you automatically by alerting you when a program on your computer acts suspisciously. Panda offers Platinum Internet Security 2005, a package that includes Titanium Antivirus 2005 with their anti-spam,anti-spware, anti-phishing, firewall intrusion protection and parental control (porn filter). The package sells for about half as much again as Titanium Antivirus - less than the cost of any two progams alone. An outstanding deal if you need more than just the anti-virus protection.

Protect yourself now against viruses and other dangerous programs. Download and install anti-virus protection today.