Six Simple Steps To Secure Your Computer From Malicious
Attacks and Avoid Expensive Repair Bills
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Keep an up-to-date anti-virus software running at all times.
I recommend AVG anti-virus for two simple reasons:
1) It detects
and removes spyware and malware programs that a lot of the more
well-known (and more expensive) anti-virus software programs
miss, and
2) It does this for about half the price.
It also has an auto scan and update feature that will make sure
your computer is running the most current protection available
and regularly scanning for threats.
Start using an alternative web browser to Internet Explorer such
as Mozilla Firefox. Just recently, hackers have figured out
a way to access and download malicious programs to your computer
via a security hole in Internet Explorer. What is amazing about this is that
you don’t even have to click on anything or download a program
to get infected. You are especially vulnerable if you have an
older version of Windows such as Windows 98.
Mozilla is a completely free web browser that does not have the
same security problems as Internet Explorer. Many of my clients even report
back that they like their Mozilla browser better than Internet
Explorer. Switching from
Internet Explorer to Mozilla is a simple and cost-free way to add another layer
of security to your computer. To download this free browser, go
to
www.mozilla.com/firefox/.
- Use
an alternative e-mail program other than Outlook Express.
Outlook Express is notorious for security holes. If you don’t
have the latest security updates, hackers can send you e-mails
with viruses that automatically open and install themselves
without you even opening or previewing the e-mail and its
attachments. I recommend that you either upgrade Outlook Express
to a newer, more secure version of Outlook or switch to
Mozilla’s Thunderbird E-mail software. Thunderbird is free and
you can download a copy from:
http://www.mozillamessaging.com/en-US/thunderbird/
-
Never open suspicious looking e-mails or attachments.
This
goes without saying because most viruses are replicated via
e-mail. If it looks suspicious, delete it immediately!
-
Stop using peer to peer file sharing sites and downloading
“cute” programs.
Think of it like cyber candy. Hackers use these cute and funny
programs as bait to get you to download their destructive
programs. These are guaranteed ways of contracting malicious
viruses, spyware, and malware. Also, peer to peer file sharing
sites like KaZaa are mine fields of malicious programs. NEVER
access those sites or download the programs that run them.
- Set
up a firewall.
A firewall is simply a device that acts as a
buffer between you and the big, wild world of the Internet.
Many users will get a DSL or cable Internet connection and
plug it directly into their computer with no firewall in
between.
The one thing you have to remember about the Internet is that it
is a big open field. You have access to the world, but on the
flip side, the world has access to YOU. Hackers have programs
that automatically scan the Internet for computers connected via
a cable or DSL connection without a firewall. Once they find
one, they access your computer, download vicious programs, and
can even use YOUR computer to send viruses to your friends and
other computers, all without your knowledge or consent.
-
Backup your files every night.
Have you ever lost an hour of
work on your computer due to a crash or program error? Now
imagine losing all of your precious family and vacation photos,
e-mails, music files, and documents.
No one really thinks about losing all of the data on
their computer until it actually happens. By then, it is either
too late and you have lost EVERYTHING or it will take a lot of
money paid to a specialist to recover your files.
I cannot stress the importance of backing up your files enough.
If the files on your computer are important to you, then it is
about time you got serious about protecting them by backing up
every night.
The backup solution you chose will depend on the amount or size
of the data you need to backup. Sometimes a simple zip drive or
CD burner will do the trick. If you have a lot of data to
backup, you may want to consider an automated backup and
disaster recovery solution. If you want to know what is best for
your specific situation, call our offices and one of our
technicians will be happy to discuss the best system backup plan
for you.
