Transcript

COMPUTER

Hello there. Are you about to click on a link you're not sure about? Well I hope you've taken care. Because if not, I could quite easily drop a Trojan horse, or a drive-by download, or some other sinister malware into your laptop and turn your computer into a zombie. Don't worry, it's not one of those zombies.

But it does mean I could take control of your computer without you knowing and either steal your identity or make your computer do things it shouldn't, like sending out spyware or spam. I can make it happen without you noticing. And it's not only your computer I can do that to. I can make a whole network of them which is called a botnet, or a zombie army.

So, I guess you'll want to know how to avoid it all, won't you? Well, the first thing to do is not to click on any unsafe links or download any attachments that you're not sure of. But if you're worried you may be part of a botnet, check if your computer is running slower than normal, or if starts behaving erratically. Or you might notice some unusual internet activity that you weren't expecting.

You could check your Task Manager to see what it's up to. Disconnect from the network and see if the computer behaves differently. Looks like you've got a problem. Of course your virus scanner should be telling you as well.

So what can you do to stop it happening? Uh oh, almost right. You need to make sure your antivirus and anti-spyware software is up to date. But use a reputable source. Rogue antivirus software could be malware in disguise. And remember, though that helps, it can't save you if you go and click on an unsafe link anyway. You're learning, but give it a full scan. And make sure your firewall is on too. And, if all else fails, ask an expert to help you. No need to thank me. I was just doing my j-.

[TYPING]