Don't Visit Foreign Countries On the Web

We all know a friend who went overseas and came back with a horrifying illness. That same thing happens on the Internet. You are much more likely to get a computer virus---especially a powerful Ebola-type virus---when you visit websites that are hosted outside the US. McAfee recently reported that the percentage of all websites that contain malware (read: really bad stuff that will mess up your computer, ruin your day, and cause you to think about taking an anger management class) has been holding steady at around 4% of the world's web sites. But, that 4% hides the fact that 19% of Hong Kong sites (.HK) and 12% of Chinese sites (.CN) contain some combination of viruses, worms, trojans, and spyware.

To keep your computer infection-free, we recommend:

• Stay close to home. If at all possible, only visit .com, .gov, .net and .edu sites. If you have must go to a foreign website, look at the name carefully before you visit. Don’t risk a click on www.dirty-computer-tricks.hk
• Keep Windows and Mircosoft Office up-to-date. You can do this by clicking on Start > Control Panel and then Windows Update.
• I know it’s been said before, but do not click on links in emails, especially from unknown senders. Really. 100% of the time. No matter how much you are tempted.
• Use a good security software suite and make sure the firewall is activated. You can make sure the firewall is on by going into the software's control panel and looking in the firewall section.

We can’t end this Tech Tip without pointing out that if you do not go to foreign websites, but you do go to sites that you don’t want your mom to know about, you run a very high risk of getting an infection (just like Mom said…) Porn sites and illegal music or movie download sites are much, more likely to contain malware than the local Boy Scout Troup’s website.

If you suspect you have a virus or other malware on your computer, call us. We have lots of special tricks for curing sick computers. And, we won’t even tell your mom!

Thinking globally but surfing locally,

Darrell Gray
Networkistics, Inc.
IT consulting and support services
925.249.9980
www.networkistics.com