Viruses don’t just put spam on our computers or takeover a computer, but they can also corrupt files on your hard drive or network storage so they are unusable. When files get corrupted on the network, they have to be recovered from backups (which only occurs twice a day), which means you may lose hours of work on a file due to a virus (and IT does not backup your local PC hard drive).
An outbreak can and has meant:
- Staff being unable to access files on network storage for more than a day
- Staff being unable to access files on their local PC and unable to use their PC
- Files being unrecoverable on network storage
- Files being unrecoverable on local PCs
Viruses impair CPCS’ ability to serve our clients, because they affect our ability to access and update case files and use our computers.
We do scan all files with antivirus software, but just like the flu vaccine, it won’t catch everything. Too many viruses are being created too quickly for antivirus companies to keep up.
The staff of CPCS are the key line of defense in blocking virus infections. The following tips will help us better defend against viruses (and they will help you at home, too!).
- When in doubt about an email or web site, ask IT ([email protected])
- Don’t assume antivirus software catches everything
- Don’t click links or attachments from people you don’t know. Period
- Check that the email address makes sense for the sender (hover your cursor over the To: name in the email and it will show your their email address. If it doesn’t match the user, it’s a hoax)
- Don’t click generic emails (“You might find this interesting”) with links or attachments even from a known person. Call or email them separately (don’t “reply” to the suspect email) to ask whether they sent it
- Only trust security warnings coming directly from CPCS IT
- Don’t open links or attachments when it is strange that the person sent this type of message
- e.g., ‘There is no reason Jim in Accounting would send an email about my webmail account.’
- Be skeptical of all emails and web sites you visit
- Do not use your CPCS email address for personal purposes
- The minute you think you are infected or clicked a bad link, shut down your PC and call IT
- If infected, tell IT the source. Finding the mechanism and source of infection is key to fast resolution and preventing further infections
Daniel Saroff