by Paul Wilcox

By now most users are aware of the need to implement antivirus software on individual systems. But a large percentage of the hardware and software used to provide something for those users to use resides outside them. What are they and what can be done to protect them from virus attacks?

Virus attacks aren’t limited to desktop PC’s. The computer servers that operate websites, email and other internet services are also vulnerable.

Many of these servers are really not that different from a desktop PC. They may have more memory, multiple processors and larger hard drives, but they’re still more or less the same type of equipment when you get right down to it.

Because of that fact, they’re often vulnerable to the same viruses and other internet security threats that the average desktop system is. They also need to run antivirus software, firewalls and other forms of protection.

What Options Do They Have?

Because these servers provide internet services to many users (sometimes thousands at a time) they are a popular target for the people who create viruses. As an end user, you can help to keep these systems virus-free by ensuring that your computer stays that way. And the system administrators on those systems can help by limiting the type of software that gets installed on them.

When you keep your computer protect against online security threats, you’re helping to minimize the target area for hackers. It’s also necessary to keep your computer updated with the latest operating system and browser patches. You may even want to consider running a more secure web browser, such as Firefox, instead of Internet Explorer.

Avoid booting from or loading software from CD’s, DVD’s or other disks that haven’t been scanned for viruses, if you’re not sure of the source. If a single file on one of those disks contains a virus, it can spread like wildfire.

If you use FTP, you should look into switching to a more secure system for file transfers. FTP passwords are sent “in the clear” - there is no encryption on them at all. So when you log into an FTP server, if someone is monitoring your internet traffic, they can easily get your password.

It’s up to all of us to make sure these systems remain secure - not just the system administrators. They have a lot of work on their plate and aren’t always as quick to respond to security issues as they would like.

About the Author:
Is your PC secure enough? Find out what you should be doing to keep it safe from viruses, spyware and other online security threats at the Online Security Toolkit website. Visit http://www.onlinesecuritytoolkit.com for more tips & info.