Tips to Protect Your Computer From Malicious Activity
1. Install an antivirus program
Obtain antivirus software to prevent infection from viruses and other malware. Viruses and malware are words used to describe malicious software that have been created for unscrupulous means ranging from putting annoying messages on your computer to stealing all your computer files and or credit card and banking information. Due to the risk severity that malware presents it is highly encouraged that anyone without antivirus or internet security software gets some. Once you have antivirus protection software remember to scan your computer at least once a week for viruses.
2. Password management
A lot of online services are protected only by a simple password. Email access, online banking, chat programs, and social networking sites to name a few. When you do a password reset request for a service it is sent to your email account. In other words if your email account is compromised so is many of your other services that used that email address to sign up. Protecting your email account from being compromised is extremely important, so I highly recommend your email password be very strong containing a combination of numbers, letters and other alphanumeric characters and that it also be unique.
3. Windows Operating System updates
Security holes in the Windows Operating System are found occasionally and can be used to compromise your computers security. Microsoft however generally gets on top of these security risks and releases security patches and updates to fix any of these problems.
To make sure you have the latest updates do the following (Windows XP instructions):
- Click on Start and then;
- Click Control Panel;
- Select Security Centre;
- Check that in the section called Automatic Updates it says 'On', otherwise click the button 'Turn on Automatic Updates'
4. Any Important files on your computer? Back them up!
Imagine you that you are a University student and you have just finished a 100 page major assignment. Now before you can print it out your computer fails, and you have lost all your files stored on the computer. None of those files are backed up - they are gone for good. This has not happened to me, but it's likely some unfortunate person out there has had this happen. If you don't want to lose a report for work, school assignments or some other important files then get a portable storage device or rewritable CD and backup your files.
Gloss