Virus scanner
work by comparing the data on your computer against a collection of virus
“signatures”. Each signature is characteristic of a particular virus, and when
the scanner finds, data in a file. Email, or elsewhere that matches the
signature, it concludes that it’s found a virus. However, a virus scanner can
only scan for the viruses it knows about. It’s vital that you keep your virus
scanner’s signature file up to date, as new viruses are created every day.
The problem
actually goes a bit deeper than this, though. Typically, a new virus will do
the greatest amount of damage during the early stages of its life, precisely
because few people will be able to detect it. Once word gets around that a new
virus is on the loose and people update their virus signatures, the spread of
the virus falls off drastically. The key is to get ahead of the curve, and have
updated signature files on your computer before the virus hits.
Virtually every
maker of anti-virus software provides a way to get free updated signature files
from their website. In fact, many have “push” services, in which they’ll send
notification every time a new signature file is released. Use these services.
Also, keep the itself that is, the scanning software update as well. Virus
writers periodically develop new techniques that require that scanners change
how they do their work.
Law #9: Absolute Anonymity Isn’t
practical, In Real Life Or ON The Web
All
human interaction involves exchanging data of some kind. If someone enough of
that data together, they can identify you. Think about all the information that
a person can glean in just a short conversation with you. In one glance, they
can gauge your height, weight and approximate age. Your accent will probably
tell them what country you’re from, and may ever tell them what region of the
country. If you talk about anything other than the weather, you’ll probably
tell them something about your family, your interests, where you live, and what
you do for a living. It doesn’t take long for best bet is to live in a cave and
shun all human contact.
The
same thing is true of the internet. If you visit a website, the owner can, if
he’s sufficiently motivated, find out who you are. After all, the ones and
zeroes that make up the web session have to be able to find their way to the
right place, and that place is your computer. There are a lot of measures you
can take to disguise the bits, and the more of them you use, the more
thoroughly the bits will be disguised. For instance, you could use network
address translation to mask tour actual Ip address, subscribe to an anonym zing
service that launders the bits by relaying them from one end of the ether to
the other, use a different ISP account for different purposes, surf certain
sites only from public kiosks, and so on. All of these make it more difficult
to determine who you are, but none of them make it impossible. Do you know for
certain who operates the anonym zing service? Maybe it’s the same person who
owns the website you just visited! Or what about that innocuous website you
visited yesterday, that offered to mail you a free $10 off coupon? Maybe the
owner is willing to share information with other website owner. If so, the
second website owner may be able to correlate information from the two sites
and determine who you are.
Does
this mean that privacy on the web is a lost cause? Not at all. What it means is
that the best way to protect your privacy on the internet is the same as the
way you protect your privacy in normal life through your behavior. Read the
privacy statement on the website you visit and only do business with ones whose
practices you agree with. If you’re worried about cookies, disable them. Most
importantly, avoid indiscriminate web surfing recognize that just as most
cities have a bad side of town that’s best avoided, the internet does too. But
if it’s complete and total anonymity you want, better start looking for that
cave.
