Find and Fix Errors

Nowadays more and more people are making use of their PCs for everything from communication to internet banking and investing to shopping. As we do these things on a more frequent basis, we open ourselves up to potential hackers, attackers and crackers. While some may be looking to phish your private information and identity for resale, others simply just want to use your computer as a platform from which to attack other unknowing targets. Below are one or two simple, cheap steps you can implement to make your personal or home based business computer more secure.

1. Always save backups of important information and store in a safe place separate from your computer.

2. Update and patch your O.S., internet browser and software frequently. If you have got a Windows operating software, start by going directly to www.windowsupdate.microsoft.com and running the update wizard. This program will help you in finding the latest patches for your Windows PC. Also go to www.officeupdate.microsoft.com to find possible patches for your Office programs.

3. Install a firewall. Without a good firewall, viruses, worms, Trojans, spyware and adware can all simply access your computer from the web. Consideration should be given to the advantages and differences between hardware and software based firewall programs.

4. Review your browser and email settings for optimum security. Why should you do this? Active-X and JavaScript are typically used by hackers to plant malicious programs into your PCs. While cookies are comparatively innocuous vis security concerns, they do still track your movements online to build a profile of you. At a minimum set your security setting for the “internet zone” to high, and your “trusted sites zone”" to medium low.

5. Install antivirus software and set it for automated updates so you receive the most recent versions.

6. Do not open unknown e-mail attachments. It is just not enough that you may know the address from which it originates because many viruses can spread from a well-recognized address.

7. Do not run programs from unknown origins. Also, do not send these kinds of programs to friends and colleagues because they contain funny or entertaining stories or jokes. They may contain a trojan waiting to infect a P. C..

8. Disable concealed filename extensions. By default, the Windows O.S. is automatically set to “hide file extensions for known file types”. Disable this option so that file extensions display in Windows. Some file extensions will, by default, continue to remain concealed, but you are much more apt to see any unusual file extensions that don’t belong.

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Tags: computer protection, protect computer, safe computing, security, trojan horses, virus protection