This is a double edge sword for the media; it is good for shows like 60 Minutes to bring up issues such as computer viruses (given the tendency for a large percentage of PC users not to update their computer), but on the other side they have to be careful not to throw everyone into a panic.
The bottom line these days for PC owners is to keep up with updates to their Virus software and from Microsoft Update service; this will ensure that the threat to one's PC is as negligible as say a Mac. I can't even remember the last time a virus was detected and cleaned on one of my systems, it has been years. The updates can be set to be performed automatically. That is how I setup Microsoft Update and OneCare Virus protection. I don't even think about it.
In this economy if the cost of a Virus protection subscription is an issue, it should not be; companies like AVG technologies offer Virus protection for free, so anyone trying to tell you that you have to pay to be protected is full of it. Microsoft offers its software updates for free and in June will start offering Virus protection for free as well.
If we are to believe the April 1st Confliker bomb and if you have not updated your systems lately, do it now! Otherwise, you have no one but yourself to blame if your system gets infected with Conflicker.
Here is an excellent FAQ from CNET on Conflicker. Microsoft has also released a tool to remove the virus here.
Comments