Why
don't all firms use virus prevention products ?
This
is usually because they haven't experienced a computer virus,
and are content in the knowledge that it won't happen to them.
(Computer viruses are things that other people get because they
visit "dodgy" web sites. We don't do that !)
"Ignorance
is bliss" until the virus activates and does whatever it
was designed to do. NB. This is not usually to your benefit!.
Some are amusing, but others are not, leaving your PC unusable
and putting all of your work at risk. Others have much more
sinister goals, especially if you are on-line to the Internet.
Prevention
is "Cheap" !
To protect a single PC can cost as little as
£30 per year. That's less than 10p per day. All you have
to do is purchase a package from any of the well known anti-virus
companies, install it on your PC, and set it up to update from
the Internet.
To protect a network is more complicated, more
expensive, and requires detailed knowledge of "how your
network works".
If you protect all of the PCs on your network,
it's much better than doing nothing, but it isn't the total
solution.
Cure
is usually "Expensive" !
To
reload the operating system, all of the applications, and restore
the data, can take up to half a day for each PC. That's after
you've got rid of the virus. It may be quicker if your PC came
with a "restore" CD, but you better make sure you've
got copies of all of your works to restore after, because restore
CDs usually restore the PC to the state it was in software wise,
when you bought it.
But
there's no point in doing that until you're sure that the PC
won't be re-infected. This isn't too hard if you can stop the
whole firm working whilst this is done. Every PC in your firm
may be infected by now!
Which
manufacturer is best ?
The
one that's just saved your PC from being infected. I.E. The
one you've bought.
There
are many reputable Anti-Virus companies including Symantec (Norton),
Computer Associates, Sophos, Trend Micro, McAfee (Dr Solomons),
etc. etc.
By
all means compare their features, but if this is going to take
you months, remember that you are still at risk.
Symantec
-> www.symantec.com
Computer
Associates -> www.ca.com
Sophos
-> www.sophos.co.uk
Trend
Micro -> www.antivirus.com
McAfee
-> www.mcafee.com
Don't
delay, buy one today !
I'll
make much more money, short term, if you don't, but I'd much
rather help you improve your business through the use of IT,
than help you "stay in business", by "cleaning
up after a computer virus".
