If something’s going to go wrong with your laptop, it won’t go wrong at the office where the IT department is just down
the hall. No, it’ll crash at the worst possible time—just hours before a huge, out-of-state
business presentation. No matter what OS you are using, malware can still bring
your laptop to its knees. Here are some tips for troubleshooting any problems
you may encounter.
1. Update Your Antivirus Program First
When a user notices a problem,
a common first reaction is to run the antispyware and antivirus programs on his machine. That’s a
great idea, of course, but it’s important that you’re running the current
version of the software and that you update it so that it can recognize all of
the latest potential threats to your system. Although you can set most
enterprise-level antivirus programs to update automatically, there are some
programs that require manual updates before you start the lengthy scanning process.
After you download the latest definitions and detection rules, run a scan to
track down any problems. If you’re travelling, perhaps with a new laptop, and
find you don’t have security software installed, you can search the Web for the
latest highly rated antivirus and personal firewall solutions, many of which
have free versions available for download.
2. Use a Firewall
One of the best ways to
prevent your computer from being loaded down with malware is to never let the
stuff in the door. If for some
reason you can’t find a firewall running on your system, check with an
administrator. If you’re traveling, at minimum
make sure that the basic Windows firewall is running. To do this in Windows 7:
·
Click Start (the Windows icon in the bottom left corner of the
screen).
·
Select Control Panel.
·
Select Windows Firewall.
If the firewall is set to
Off, simply select the radio button or link for On and click OK. Search online
and you’ll find several free firewalls available that do a good job of
protecting your computer from unwanted intrusions. A number of these programs,
once installed, will prompt you to determine which programs are authorized to
access the Internet. Then the programs will block the rest (or at least seek
permission to allow a new program to access the Internet). Of course, the
enterprise-level offerings include powerful firewalls, so if your company uses programs
such as those, make sure they’re up and running before you leave for a business
trip. Keep in mind that running multiple firewalls can cause conflicts, so don’t
install a new firewall or start the Windows firewall unless you’re sure another
one isn’t running.
3. Use Caution
Automated spyware and
antivirus tools are great, but they’re no substitute for a little bit of
vigilance on your part. Got an email
from someone you don’t know? Immediately trash it without opening it. Even if
your email program automatically
opens your new messages in a reading pane, it’s a good idea never to download
an unexpected attachment. Consider using an alternative email service provider
(various Web-based options are available) that can give you an extra layer of
protection by immediately scanning all incoming and outgoing attachments for
virus threats. Also, no matter what the pop-ups tell you, don’t click anything
that jumps unsolicited onto your screen claiming
to be able to fix a virus or spyware problem. These pop-ups are more often than
not carriers of spyware and viruses in the guise of an actual message from your
OS. A general rule of thumb is that if it opens in a browser window and you did not specifically
point your browser toward it, don’t click it. Just close the window and go
about your business
4. Get Rid of Suspicious Programs
So, your system is armed
to the teeth with regularly updated antivirus and antispyware utilities, but
you’re still having troubles?
There are some simple fixes you can run in Windows to help you at least get
around spyware problems. You can simply monitor and control the programs your computer
is running at startup. To do this in Windows 7:
·
Click Start.
·
Select Control Panel.
·
Select System And
Security (in Category view).
·
Select Administrative
Tools.
·
Double-click System Configuration.
·
Select the Startup tab.
·
Examine the programs in
the list. If something refuses to identify itself, it’s a pretty good bet you
don’t need it when your machine
starts up.
·
Deselect suspicious
checkboxes. You can also streamline your computer’s startup routine by
deselecting programs that you rarely use.
·
Click OK.
·
When prompted, restart.
5. Set a Restore Point
If your laptop was
issued to you by your company’s IT department, chances are it is set up with
security in mind. If, however,
your computer is running well and you would like to take an extra precaution,
you can set a restore point. Doing so
captures your system’s current settings so that you can return to them in the
future if necessary. In Win7:
·
Click Start.
·
Click All Programs.
·
Click Accessories.
·
Click System Tools.
·
Click System Restore.
If you are creating a
restore point, click Create A Restore Point and follow the prompts. If you want
to restore to a known good configuration, click Restore My Computer To An
Earlier Time and select an earlier restore point.
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