Maintaining Your IT System

7. Viruses and Internet Security

Using email and the Internet can open your system to external threats. You should take precautions.

7.1 Install anti-virus software on all your PCs.

Respected products include Symantec, Sophos and McAfee.

7.2 Minimise the risk of viruses entering your system.

• Always buy your software from reputable distributors.
• Do not allow your employees to load any unauthorised software or data.
• Ban employees from opening any attachments to unexpected emails, whatever their apparent source.
• Make sure every disk from outside your company is checked for potential viruses.

7.3 If you have a broadband 'always on' Internet connection, consider installing a firewall.

• Firewalls prevent outside users gaining access to, or hacking into, your system.

7.4 Email and Internet filters can prevent you from wasting computer and other resources.

• Anti-spam software blocks unsolicited junk mail from your system.
• Internet content filters restrict employees' access to inappropriate or time-wasting websites.