Researching genealogy on the Internet can be tremendously rewarding, providing data and clues that just a few years ago would have taken us months or years to access. There is no doubt that the Internet has accelerated our research, but with this comes a price. Our computer systems are exposed to potential damage or compromise by viruses and hackers. In "Along Those Lines . . ." this week, let's discuss viruses and hackers, how they can access and affect our computers, and what we can do to help safeguard our computers and our important data.

Cyberterrorism on the Rise
Hardly a month goes by without some report in the media or a discussion on some genealogy mailing list about what I call “cyberterrorism”—the malicious act of attacking another person's computer for the purpose of damaging or destroying the computer equipment and/or data residing on it. These attacks take the form of viruses introduced to a computer system or of hackers, persons who work their way into a supposedly secure Web site to damage or destroy data. Both are insidious methods of causing other computer users to shake in their shoes, wondering what to do. So let's talk about each type of peril.

Viruses
I teach a seminar for library personnel about identifying, eradicating, and preventing viruses on their libraries' and their own personal computers. Over the past year, as I have conducted the seminar at various locations, I have heard many horror stories from attendees about their experiences with viruses:

• Messages appear on the computer screen mocking the fact that the user has now been infected.
  
• Programs cease to work that were fine yesterday.
  
• Systems run out of memory.
  
• Program files are erased or corrupted (changed).
  
• Data files are damaged.
  
• Hard disks are reformatted.
  
• Computer's NETBIOS chip commands are damaged or erased.

The so-called Love Bug virus wreaked havoc on computer systems worldwide in May of 2000, for instance, and one estimate counted the financial damage in the billions of dollars. That is only one of tens of thousands of viruses being circulated on the Internet.

Nowadays, it is possible for you to contract a computer virus, not only through the download of executable data files, but also through attachments to e-mails you receive (especially if you're a user of Microsoft Outlook™ or JavaScript and ActiveX programs running within Web pages). And contrary to what some Macintosh users claim, their computers are not immune to viruses, as is evidenced by a number of software programs available for Macs.

I wrote a detailed article earlier this year describing the perils of viruses and how you can protect yourself. If you missed it, you can access and read it online. In addition, there are computer virus hoaxes—false stories and urban myths—that are circulated from time to time. Juliana Smith wrote an excellent article on this subject, which can also be read online. Please take the time to read up on viruses and learn how to protect yourself.

Hackers
Hackers are the insidious little weasels that creep around on the Internet and inside computer networks trying to access data, alter it, or damage/destroy it. Venerable Web sites including Amazon.com and E-Bay have been victimized by hackers, as has the federal government's Justice Department Web site. These and many other instances illustrate how hackers can gain access to even well-designed and relatively secure systems. However, think about how vulnerable our own personal computer system might be.

Over a year ago, in the interest of speeding up my Internet connection, I contacted my local cable company. They were offering a good deal on Internet connectivity, and I was eager to sign up.

Imagine my surprise one Sunday evening a few months ago when I discovered that I had not one but two viruses on my computer! I'm a dedicated user of anti-virus software because I know what a virus can do, and I download updates to my anti-virus software on a regular basis. I figured that these viruses were new and that I had not yet downloaded an update to my virus software to catch them. I went through the download and update process and cleaned the viruses off my computer.

Two weeks later, my anti-virus software alerted me to another virus infection. I had been careful not to download anything that week without checking it with the anti-virus software. How could this happen? I investigated this instance more carefully. I went to the Symantec AntiVirus Center and to the McAfee company's Virus Information Library. This new virus, I learned, is typically transmitted over a network—the CABLE network!

It turns out that once you are attached to a network of any sort, and especially a cable network offering Internet connectivity, your computer can be fair game to hackers. I learned that companies AND hackers can randomly connect with and poll computers on the network. They can request system information or send data to your computer that gets saved on your hard disk—including viruses! It's not unlike having a peeping tom lurking at your window or having someone burglarize your home while you are in another part of the house. It's a very unsettling feeling to know that your computer can be broken into and accessed without your knowledge! But there is definitely hope.

Software Solutions
Your best bet to control viruses is to purchase AND RUN a good anti-virus software package. Good ones include Norton Anti-Virus (from Symantec, mentioned above), McAfee's Virus Scan (from McAfee above), and Dr. Solomon's Anti-Virus (for PC) and Virex (for Macintosh), also from McAfee. I recommend that you purchase the software in a box the first time so that you get a user's manual. It is important to read the documentation and become familiar with the basic operation and all the options. Once you install the anti-virus software, you will want to update it regularly so that you keep on top of new viruses let loose by the cyberterrorists. The anti-virus software companies mentioned above have Web sites for this purpose containing updates of what they call .DAT files—files containing virus patterns that their software uses to detect viruses.

Hackers' access to your computer can be foiled using a piece of software called a firewall. A firewall is a software barrier that prevents outside entities from accessing your computer without your express permission. It can also prevent software installed on your computer from communicating outbound without your knowledge. (Some common software programs such as Quicken and RealAudio, for example, do this frequently when you are connected to the Internet, and you may want to prevent this.)

There are some good firewall software packages available. A free one called Zone Alarm is offered to individuals by Zone Labs, Inc. It is easily installed and easy to use. You can either engage an Internet lock anytime you want to proactively stop Internet activity, set it up to engage after so many minutes of inactivity, or set it up to engage when your computer's screensaver kicks in.

Commercial firewall software packages are also available. Symantec produces one called Norton Personal Firewall 2000 and McAfee produces one called Personal Firewall. Both perform the function of preventing unauthorized movement of data in and out of your computer.

If you are looking for an integrated solution such as anti-virus, firewall, and perhaps other-function software, both Symantec and McAfee are on the case. Symantec's software package called Internet Security 2000 Family Edition contains the following software titles:

• Norton Anti-Virus
  
• Personal Firewall 2000
  
• Privacy Control (Keeps personal information private, suppresses the activities of "cookies," and blocks banner ads and pop-up windows)
  
• Parental Control (Internet filtering to protect children from unwanted access to in appropriate sites)

McAfee has a comparable package called Guard Dog, which contains the following software and functions:

• Virus Scan software
  
• Protection of sensitive data, such as credit cards, and cookie suppression
  
• Protection and filtering for children
  
• Ad blocking

McAfee's package does not include the Personal Firewall software, which is available for an additional price. McAfee also produces a Mac firewall package called PGP Personal Privacy.

Solid Protection
Your best defense against viruses and hackers is knowledge. The cyberterrorists are not going away. It is absolutely essential that you purchase, install, run, and update your anti-virus software. Firewall software is an additional requirement these days too, especially if you are using a high-speed Internet connection through your cable company or certain DSL service providers. Take some time to investigate your options, and please stay secure.

Happy Hunting!

George

George G. Morgan is a proud member of the International Society of Family History Writers and Editors, Inc. (ISFHWE). He would like to hear from you at atl@ahaseminars.com, but due to the volume of e-mail received, he is unable to answer every e-mail message received. Please note that he cannot assist you with your individual research. Visit George's Web site for information about speaking engagements. George is also the author of The Genealogy Forum on America Online, which is available in the Ancestry Online Store.

© Copyright 2000, MyFamily.com. All rights reserved.