Table of Contents

• Home
• Digital cameras: Click it, print it, upload it

Most Realtors now understand that they should have anti-virus software installed on their computer. They also understand that they should regularly update it as a preemptive move against new viruses.

But here's something not everyone knows: Setting preferences within your anti-virus program to "automatically update" is not enough. You must still perform a regular manual update.

In most programs, "automatically update" only updates the definition files for virus names -- it does not update the program itself. At least once per week, open your anti-virus software and click on "Update Now" or any similar command on the first page.

While you're at it, check to make sure that your "Automatically Update" setting works properly. The virus definition files should be updated at least weekly and sometimes more often. Check for dates in the definition files and look for something recent. If the dates are more than a week old, you may have problems.

Many Realtors who call the Tech Helpline tell us that they do not open strange e-mail attachments to avoid getting a virus. That's good but it's not a surefire defense against all viruses. There's one virus out there -- the W32/Sasser.worm.a -- that can infect a computer even if you don't open e-mail attachments or surf the Web.

In other words, if you have your computer turned on and connected to the Internet via DSL or a cable modem, and are not current with your Microsoft Critical Updates (Windows security patches that you download from the Microsoft Web site), all the conditions have been met for infection. This virus comes to you.

Beyond keeping your anti-virus software up to date, you should also turn off your computer at night. Several years ago, conventional wisdom suggested we keep our computers on, but that was before the Sasser virus and spyware appeared. The Tech Helpline now recommends that you turn your computer off for two reasons:

• Your RAM (the active working part of your computer) does not clear unless you turn off the computer. Even a restart does not completely clear things stored in your RAM.
• Hackers, spyware and viruses can attack your computer when it is turned on and connected to a broadband connection.