Protect computer to fight viruses

Hackers are at it again. Their power has been unleashed on Microsoft's supposedly most-secure operating system to date: Windows Vista. Microsoft released a notice warning customers of a computer virus called "zero-day," according to CNN.com. The virus infects ".ani" files that operate the mouse's hourglass on the monitor, which occurs before Microsoft has the ability to fend off the attack.

Another headline about a virus is a reminder of how students, business and universities are so reliant on computers for day-to-day activities. From e-mails to Web surfing, important information is now sent through a personal PC more than ever. With our present state of dependence on computers, it is more important than ever for students of the University of Cincinnati to protect their computers from hacking.

When our computers are turned on and working properly, it seems many individuals don't think about what happens if viruses cripple their systems. Just the other day, my laptop was out of commission and I needed to access important files - a near disaster that was barely fixed in time for me to finish a term paper.

But this isn't the extreme. Many students still believe their computers are gadgets that no hacker wants access to and as a result don't take any of the necessary precautions. These assumptions are incorrect. With both viruses and identity theft at a premium, safe computer use should be second nature.

According to the Federal Trade Commission's Identity Theft Survey Report in 2003 (privacyrights.org), approximately 10 million American consumers had their personal identities breached in one year alone. When laptops are used to conduct business such as online banking, e-mailing, purchasing with credit cards and account checking, the risk of viral attacks increases even more.

With our dependence and attachment to computers today, they are comparable to another expensive commodity: cars. They're our most expensive best friends that we keep putting money into. When everything is running smoothly, life couldn't be better; when they are not, a near-death experience occurs.

Hazem Said, associate professor and department head of the Information Technology Department at UC, agrees that this daily dependence on computers leaves us susceptible to the negative effects of viruses even more.

"All our tools that we use in our daily lives are connected to one another through the Internet and that increases the impact of a virus," Said (sigh-eed) said.

While interconnectedness used to be a "positive" in business lingo, hackers have reared their ugly heads one too many times and personal security has now become paramount in business. The same step needs to occur on college campuses, where people may not be as likely to take the risk as seriously.

Said isn't saying students should try to shun computer technology altogether; rather, he said he thinks taking steps to protect your computer is the key.

"Users should take protecting their valuable information as seriously as they take protecting their valuables, like an iPod, cell phone or jewelry," Said said.

According to Said, reducing the risk of a virus can be accomplished by using a combination of letters and numbers to make passwords, purchasing firewall software and putting necessary data in various places to avoid hackers.

Despite their popularity, laptops still remain relatively high-priced for the college student budget. And the idea of purchasing additional security enhancements understandably makes students cringe. The balance we are forced to face between computer security and productivity is reaching the boiling point. Running anti-virus software and clicking "yes" or "no" for security questions takes up time and computer resources, not to mention it is just plain annoying. All the time we spend downloading and updating software as well as tackling viruses equates to missing deadlines in school and on the job.

But despite the headache, the expense and the upkeep, computers are almost impossible to live without. "Computers now have become an essential component in the life of every student," Said said. And with software touted as the most-secure showing signs of weakness, we have the proof we need in order to accept hackers for the lifeless forms they are and fight the deadly viruses that destroy our computers with all we've got.