1.Use protection software "anti-virus software" and keep it up to date.
Make sure you have anti-virus software on your computer! Anti-virus software
is designed to protect you and your computer against known viruses so you don't
have to worry. But with new viruses emerging daily, anti-virus programs need
regular updates, like annual flu shots, to recognize these new viruses. Be sure to
update your anti-virus software regularly! The more often you keep it updated, say
once a week, the better. Check with the web site of your anti-virus software
company to see some sample descriptions of viruses and to get regular updates for
your software. Stop viruses in their tracks!
2.Don't open email from unknown sources.
A simple rule of thumb is that if you don't know the person who is sending
you an email, be very careful about opening the email and any file attached to it.
Should you receive a suspicious email, the best thing to do is to delete the
entire message, including any attachment. Even if you do know the person sending
you the email, you should exercise caution if the message is strange and
unexpected, particularly if it contains unusual hyperlinks. Your friend may have
accidentally sent you a virus. Such was the case with the "I Love You" virus that
spread to millions of people in 2001. When in doubt, delete!
3. Use hard-to-guess passwords.
Passwords will only keep outsiders out if they are difficult to guess! Don't
share your password, and don't use the same password in more than one place. If
someone should happen to guess one of your passwords, you don't want them to be
able to use it in other places. The golden rules of passwords are: (1) A password
should have a minimum of 8 characters, be as meaningless as possible, and use
uppercase letters, lowercase letters and numbers, e.g., xk28LP97. (2) Change
passwords regularly, at least every 90 days. (3) Do not give out your password to
anyone!
4.Protect your computer from Internet intruders -use "firewalls".
Equip your computer with a firewall! Firewalls create a protective wall
between your computer and the outside world. They come in two forms, software
firewalls that run on your personal computer and hardware firewalls that protect a
number of computers at the same time. They work by filtering out unauthorized or
potentially dangerous types of data from the Internet, while still allowing other
(good) data to reach your computer. Firewalls also ensure that unauthorized
persons can't gain access to your computer while you're connected to the Internet.
You can find firewall hardware and software at most computer stores nationwide.
5. Don't share access to your computers with strangers.
Your computer operating system may allow other computers on a network,
including the Internet, to access the hard-drive of your computer in order to
"share files". This ability to share files can be used to infect your computer
with a virus or look at the files on your computer if you don't pay close
attention. So, unless you really need this ability, make sure you turn off filesharing.
Check your operating system and your other program help files to learn
how to disable file sharing. Don't share access to your computer with strangers!
6. Disconnect from the Internet when not in use.
Remember that the Digital Highway is a two-way road. You send and receive
information on it. Disconnecting your computer from the Internet when you're not
online lessens the chance that someone will be able to access your computer. And
if you haven't kept your anti-virus software up-to-date, or don't have a firewall
in place, someone could infect your computer or use it to harm someone else on the
Internet. Be safe and disconnect!
7. Back up your computer data.
Experienced computer users know that there are two types of people: those
who have already lost data and those who are going to experience the pain of
losing data in the future. Back up small amounts of data on floppy disks and
larger amounts on CDs. If you have access to a network, save copies of your data
on another computer in the network. Most people make weekly backups of all their
important data. And make sure you have your original software start-up disks handy
and available in the event your computer system files get damaged. Be prepared!
8. Regularly download security protection update "patches".
Most major software companies today have to release updates and patches to
their software every so often. Sometimes bugs are discovered in a program that may
allow a malicious person to attack your computer. When these bugs are discovered,
the software companies, or vendors, create patches that they post on their web
sites. You need to be sure you download and install the patches! Check your
software vendors' web sites on a regular basis for new security patches or use the
new automated patching features that some companies offer. If you don't have the
time to do the work yourself, download and install a utility program to do it for
you. There are available software programs that can perform this task for you.
9. Check your security on a regular basis.
The programs and operating system on your computer have many valuable
features that make your life easier, but can also leave you vulnerable to hackers
and viruses. You should evaluate your computer security at least twice a year.
Look at the settings on applications that you have on your computer. Your browser
software, for example, typically has a security setting in its preferences area.
Check what settings you have and make sure you have the security level appropriate
for you. Set a high bar for yourself!
10. Make sure your family members and/or your employees know what to do if your computer becomes infected.
It's important that everyone who uses a computer be aware of proper security
practices. People should know how to update virus protection software, how to
download security patches from software vendors and how to create a proper
password. Make sure they know these tips too!
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