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How do I stay protected at home?
I receive this question many times.... here are a few good recommendations to keep your computer safe: 1) Install an antivirus program and keep the virus definitions updated a minimum of weekly. (Would you buy a car and not buy oil?? or not change it??)
2) Run the Windows update process weekly and install all of the updated patches. (Yes there is a risk that the update can break something...but there is a greater risk that you will be hacked.)
3) Run a hardware firewall if possible. There are many inexpensive home-owner firewalls made by LinkSys, Netgear, D-Link and others. If not... run a software firewall. I would recommend the ZoneAlarm program for a software firewall. They do have a free version, or a purchased version with a few more bells and whistles. CA also has a nice firewall and Virus protection package...and it is free for one year. A nice article on software and hardware firewalls. How safe is your computer on the Internet? Check out the Shields-up site to find out. (After a firewall.... you should be safe.) 4) Run a spyware checker program on your computer.
5) Do not visit Hacker sites, Game cheat sites, etc.... These sites often contain viruses, etc. If anything ever pops up on the screen about installing a program or plug in.... SAY NO. (You can at least do a search on Goggle about the software before installing it.) Many of these installations are for spyware or remote control software. 6) Never open email attachments that you are not expecting to receive. It does not matter who sent them... DO NOT OPEN THEM! 7) Do not be afraid to take your computer to a specialist or pay for repairs! (Would you ask good 'OL Joe down the block to work on your car? And if you did... would you expect him to do it for free??)
As always.... Practice safe computing! |
