CSI: UW Short Subject
But I HAVE antivirus software!
(so he thought)
The Scenario
Joe got a laptop several months ago. It came with a preinstalled
trial version of antivirus software. Over the past few weeks, Joe has noticed
that he can’t connect to the Internet consistently any more, and his machine is
running incredibly slow. When he takes his laptop in for a checkup, he is
shocked to learn that his machine has no current virus protection and is
infested with viruses, worms, and spyware. What happened?
The Symptoms
- You have poor or no connection to the Internet
- Your computer is running very slowly
- Your homepage in your browser is set to something else
- Your files are corrupt
The Knowledge
Antivirus software expires! Even though antivirus software may come with your
computer, it is usually a trial version. It may work and be updated for a time
(usually 60 days), but at the end of the trial period it expires. If you do not
sign up and pay for a subscription, you will not receive updates. This leaves
your computer vulnerable to attack.
Viruses, worms, and spyware constantly change. These malware are constantly being
created and changed to bypass antivirus software. If your antivirus software is
not up to date with the latest virus definitions, there is a good chance you
will be infected.
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