My quarterly SNIT about PC Backup.
John London, MCSE, CNE

Here's a reminder for us all about protecting the data on our personal computers, and a promise; If you're not backing up your files, one day It will bite you.

I've heard the argument; "I don't really have that many files that I need to worry about backup." But ask yourself; if my hard drive crashes or a virus wipes it out, how much time and how many dollars will be required to get back up and running?

For Windows-based operating systems; there are two types of backup for you to consider;

1) Full or incremental file backup - backs up your data file-by-file - great for daily backup. The software is available everywhere, some are even free. A good source is Tucows.com.

2) Image (or clone) backup - backs up the entire partition of your hard drive - great for complete recovery from a disaster. 'Acronis True Image' is a great choice, available at your local computer store or on-line @ from Acronis.com.

Here's more on Image backup;

It requires an additional physical hard drive or DVD writable device upon which you  create an "image" or "clone." The difference is crucial for recovering from a head crash, virus, or other damage to your main drive.  Although software for disk cloning, resembles data backup software, there's a major difference.

Cloning operates at the disk and partition level not the file level and results in an exact image of your main drive. This allows you to restore your PC to precisely the condition it was in at the time of image capture. The image, unlike a 'normal' back-up, contains all of the details of the hard drive partition you are cloning and includes all files no matter what their attribute settings.

For example, the image will clone all hidden and system files—including the crucial Io.sys and Msdos.sys essential for booting, and the master boot record (MBR).

Because everything about your disk partition(s), your operating system, your applications and utilities, and your configuration settings are simple data bytes, and because the image file captures everything on a byte-by-byte basis, the completed image file contains everything needed to reproduce the hard drive or partition exactly.   

Two good ways to accomplish cloning are to install an additional internal hard drive (about $130 or less) or purchase an external hard drive (less than $200).

The internal hard drive obviously can't be removed to a safe place; but most folks that are backing up their system are leaving the media in the same room with the computer anyway, and it beats doing nothing.

In my mind the external drive is the better choice because it can be easily picked up and ported to a safe place.

Hope this helps - J. London, Webmaster

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    My quarterly SNIT about PC security!

You must accept that there will always be some risk, but that there are things you can do to minimize them. You can;

a) Keep your operating system (Windows, Linux, Apple, etc) updated with all the available patches. BTW, there will ALWAYS be patches.

b) Obtain and MAINTAIN a good anti-virus program. Run a full system scan at least monthly.

c) Don't open E-mail attachments.

d) If you have files that are important to you (don't we all?) consider a good back up device and 'Acronis True Image' to create an image of your hard drive.

e) Get and maintain a good AdWare protection program.

f) Be suspicous of copying files from someone elses computer or any that you get in snail-mail.

g) Consider that you can prevent internet threats when you are not on-line by logically or physically disconnecting from your ISP when you are done. (I must admit that I don't adhere to this.) You can, of course, do a shutdown, but computers last longer when left running IME.

Hope this helps and is not too elementary for anyone.

Goose

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My quarterly SNIT about E-Mail security!

On the subject of Internet security let me add what I think is the most under-emphasized (is that a word?) item.

Most virus(s) are transported thru e-mail attachments. That is not news to anyone. Everyone knows they are dangerous. Attachments when clicked in an e-mail have the potential to Execute (run) a program. That program may contain malicious code that could be a disaster for your hard drive or contain a trojan. Beware of attachments with the three character designation of (but not limited to) the following; .exe, .com, .bat, .scr, .zip, vbs and others but these cover most.

Most of us know that - but here's the part where some folks get a false sense of comfort. Here's what I too often hear;

"Can you help - I think I caught a virus."
"Did you open an e-mail attachment?"
"Yes, but it was from someone I know, and besides my Anti-Virus software was up to date as of this morning. I NEVER open attachments unless it's from someone I know!"

Sounds like this user is pretty savy about security.

Here's the problem;

1. Many e-mail virus are self-propogating. When they infect your system they have the potential to use your address book to mail itself out to all of your contacts. What Your friends see is an e-mail from you, their trusted friend.

My point? Virus(s) will often come to you from someone you know!

2. Anti-Virus signature files are great insofar as they go. The problem is that the little creeps are constantly trying to beat the system. If I write a virus this morning and put it on the net that afternoon It will take Norton, McAfee or whomever weeks to;
       a) discover that the virus exists (from a user that has already been burned).
       b) evaluate the code.
       c) decide the approach to kill the virus.
       d) write code to add to the next signature file(s). Perhaps write a correction program(s).
       e) publish the sig file(s).
       f) you (hopefull) download the latest sig file and update your AV software.

My point? Weeks, if not months will likely pass before you can be protected from the code I wrote this morning!

Attachments can be a plague! To repeat, this is what I hear often as advice given to other people; "I NEVER open attachments unless it's from someone I know!"

Which all (fianlly) leads me to my three cardinal rules about e-mail;

1. DO NOT OPEN E-MAIL ATTACHMENTS.
2  DO NOT OPEN E-MAIL ATTACHMENTS.
3. DO NOT OPEN E-MAIL ATTACHMENTS.

There is no attachment so important that cannot be obtained by snail mail or fax or some other means.

Just my humble opinion, and offered as friendly advice. And of course, all rules have exceptions, as always use your best judgment.

Goose [John London]