“What programs will keep my data safe?”

Categories: Information Security

“What programs do I need on my computer to keep me safe?” It is a question I am often asked. The unfortunate truth is there is no one specific program that will keep you 100 percent safe from all threats. However there are several programs that, when used correctly and in unison, can minimize the likelihood of your computer becoming infected.

A good place to start is an antivirus program. OSU currently uses Microsoft Security Essentials (MSE) or Windows Defender depending on which version of Windows is on your computer. These programs scan your computer for known malicious software. MSE can be downloaded from here if you would like to install it on your Windows 7 machine. Windows Defender is included with Windows 8, 8.1, and 10.

If you are concerned your computer is infected with malware, Malwarebytes is a very good program to install. Unless you have a paid subscription Malwarebytes does not scan your computer in real time. Still, the free version does a very good job at detecting viruses and malware but you have to remember to manually run it from time to time. Malwarebytes can be downloaded from here.

An online backup program is, arguably, the most important program you can have on your computer. An example is CrashPlan. Recently, I diagnosed a computer that was infected with Cerber ransomware. As a result of the infection, all of the files on the computer were encrypted with Advanced Encryption Standard which is virtually impossible to crack without the key to decrypt the data. The virus left a message on the computer screen stating the encryption key would be provided if a fee was paid. Even if the ransom was paid, there is no guarantee that the key would be provided. In this particular case, I could have removed the virus and malware on the computer. However, the files would still be encrypted. Without an online data backup, the data was lost. Cerber is just one of the several programs that have been found in the last year to bypass antivirus programs and, in some cases, even corrupt local backups. This makes online backups even more critical. CrashPlan can be purchased and downloaded from here.

While there is no need to panic over computer security, it is very good to plan ahead and be prepared. Installing an antivirus program and using on online backup program can help save your data from being lost and minimize the security risks ranging from theft to ransomware.

~Levi Arnold