A study done by USA Today and Avantgarde, a San Francisco tech marketing and design firm, demonstrated that a freshly loaded computer with no protection can be compromised in as little as 200 seconds after being connected to a broadband Internet connection.

Scary, eh?

While I was writing this article, a client contacted me with a brand new computer that had already been compromised and infected to the point that it was unusable, only days after taking it out of the box.

How does it happen? Here’s one of several ways: Your computer’s operating system, typically one or another flavor of Microsoft Windows, is a massive piece of software, written by humans, and prone to mistakes. When some ne’er-do-well discovers a flaw that allows them to pop into your computer via the Internet, they will often place programs on your computer without your approval. These programs typically serve the purpose of utilizing your computer’s resources to send out tons of “Spam” to other users on the Internet. Otherwise, these unwanted programs could contain a virus or a “back door” for the person to access deeper areas of your computer, including your personal data. These programs aren’t just unwelcome pests, they can damage your computer and software as well.

Microsoft and other vendors regularly discover these software mistakes and release “patches” to prevent them from being taken advantage of by miscreants who have nothing better to do than ruin your day. In recent years, operating system and software patches have become easier to manage for end users, but you still have to make sure that you’ve allowed your computer to get them. I would venture to guess that most people reading this article are running Microsoft Windows XP on their computers. Here are two easy steps to check and be sure that you’re protected:

• Make sure you are using “Service Pack 2” – a major “patch” from Microsoft. If you’re not sure, right-click your “My Computer” icon and select “Properties” from the menu that pops up. This will open a box with some information about your computer. Look for the words “Service Pack 2” under the “System” area.
• Got Service Pack 2? Good. Go to your Control Panel and find the Security Center. All three areas – “Firewall,” “Automatic Updates,” and “Virus Protection” should be “On.” If not, and you don’t know of a really good reason why they’re not, turn them on!

If you’ve got an older or newer version of Windows, these instructions vary a bit. Long story short: You need a firewall, a way for your operating system to update itself, and virus protection.

We’ll continue our discussion next week. Feel free to write with your questions!

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[Author’s Note: “Ask the Geek” is published weekly in the Stratford Star - the penultimate reading experience for residents of Stratford, Texas, population 1,920. It is posted on WritersCafe.net for posterity. Feel free to comment, but I can’t promise you’ll make the Star.]