In my limited spare time I’ve been working on my version of a “Computer Repair for Dummies” book. After years of customers asking me for such a book, I decided to compile decades of experience and make a simple how-to. The process has forced me rethink all the things that I take for granted.
I talk a lot about viruses and how to eliminate them. However, I never talk about how to get them. I’ve been trying for the last couple weeks to get viruses and have found it difficult. I have single handedly proven that getting viruses can be extremely difficult.
This whole process of trying to score viruses came about because I needed some snap shots for my book. I figured I’d take one of my daughter’s old computers and use it. Unfortunately I found very few viruses on her machine so I decided to remove the virus software and other protection and start cruising the underbelly of the internet.
Windows XP equipped with Service Pack 2 and Internet Explorer 7 made for a fine machine to start tinkering around the internet. I spent several hours a day over a week’s period doing my daily routine on the internet plus some not-so-good cruising. I was surprised at the results.
Fully expecting to snap some good pictures and give myself a virus removal workout, I started my process. I cleaned the registry, ran some utility software, and even ran some software I’ve never used before. Surprisingly enough I had only four issues. All of them were easily fixed with basic software; maybe a 20 minute job. It was time for me to examine why a little closer.
I was perplexed how so many people come into my shop loaded with viruses and why I spend many hours removing them. On my test computer with no virus software and purposefully visiting known infected sites I had only four issues. The next day at work I paid a little closer attention to the machines that came in.
The latest Windows Service Pack, Internet Explorer 8, and Firefox are all the common denominators to landing a virus. I was surprised that at least one of these was installed on every machine coming into the store. Turns out there’s a reason why the majority of infections target these machines.
Each time a patch is developed to cure and fix an issue, a virus is developed around specific vulnerabilities of the patch or update. Because Internet Explorer 8 is the most commonly used browser many viruses that were written for IE7 were rewritten for IE8. Eventually most of these will be rewritten again for IE9. The same holds true for Firefox. A typical cat and mouse game.
I created a virus magnet by upgrading the test machine and surfing the internet. Instantly I landed hundreds of viruses. I pondered for a while as I took a gander at my personal machine and wondered why I would want to install any updates if it makes me vulnerable to viruses.
The answer is quite simple really. Microsoft updates address specific issues within the software and make the computer better. Although we stand a better chance of becoming infected because we’re targeted, the system changes are for the better. Updates generally address flaws within Windows that could lead to privacy breaches and functionality issues which are far worse than viruses.
Good books usually end with a twist. In the case of my book, it seemed to start with a twist and answer some questions which I had never really thought about. My ending will probably be something along the lines of, “updating your computer and installing good virus software will keep your computer safer while using the internet.”
(Jeromy Patriquin is the President of Laptop & Computer Repair, Inc. located at 509 Main St. in Gardner. You can text him at (978) 413-2840 or call him directly at (978) 919-8059.)