Guide To Computer Security

Since you're reading this article, you're already connected to the Internet. You've probably already thought about security on your computer or network. Every day seems to bring new threats and it can seem pretty daunting, but the key thing is to have a common sense approach and to take a few basic precautions.

There are lots of great tools available to help and you don't have to break the bank to get them. Here are some areas to take a look at:

BACKUPS

Securing your information starts here. You'll need some or all of the security tools listed below, but even then you can't guarantee 100% that you won't have a problem. Hardware failures do occur so backup your data. One easy way to keep your important files is to burn them onto CD or DVD.

Another increasingly popular option is to store your critical data in the so called 'cloud backup services.'Another increasingly popular option is to store your critical data in the so called 'cloud backup services.'
These storage options give you a way to back up critical files or even your entire system securely at sites like Amazon or Rackspace, providers of huge amounts of inexpensive storage via the internet.

You will need to have a service to manage the process and two good ones are Jungledisk.com and carbonbite.com. Both automaticaly back up your computer continualy to the internet and give you assurance that even if your business burns to the ground, your files will still be instantly accesible anywhere there is an internet connection.

ANTIVIRUS SOFTWARE

An absolute must have. Alright, you already knew that, but I can't stress too strongly the importance of having good, up-to-date antivirus software.I can't stress too strongly the importance of having good, up-to-date antivirus software.
With new threats and Viruses arriving every day it's important to maintain update subscriptions and download virus definition updates as soon as they become available.

There's a lot of good antivirus software available, both free and for low cost. I'd recommend going for paid software...you just never know when you're going to need to call a helpdesk and that's generally the difference between the free stuff and the stuff you pay for. Norton, McAfee, AVG and others all sell antivirus software that's affordable on a low budget.

FIREWALL

A firewall is always recommended to help protect against unauthorized access to your PC. For a small number of PCs a software firewall is usually best and is the easiest to work with if you're not an IT expert. However, don't discount hardware firewalls, especially if you have a network with a lot of devices on it.

Whatever you do, don't rely on the Network Address Translation or packet filter built in to your ADSL or Cable router. It almost certainly won't be enough.Whatever you do, don't rely on the Network Address Translation or packet filter built in to your ADSL or Cable router. It almost certainly won't be enough.

If you're buying a particular company's Antivirus software it's worth considering buying their integrated AV and firewall package if they have one (if they don't then maybe you should try someone else). It may well save you money and be easier to configure and maintain.

ANTI-SPYWARE SOFTWARE

If you spend a lot of time browsing the Web (and let's face it, who doesn't?), then spyware is going to find its way onto your machine. A lot of it isn't particularly nasty, but the really bad stuff can send important information like passwords, bank details or credit card numbers to people you really don't want to have access to that stuff. At the very least it can slow down your PC and since you didn't ask for it in the first place then you should get rid of it.

Some tell-tail signs that you have a Spyware infection are:

• You're getting pop-up ads all the time
• Your default homepage or other settings in your browser suddenly change (especially if you can't change them back)
• Your computer is slow (there could be other reasons for this, but it's worth checking for spyware)

There's some good free software available from Lavasoft called AdAware. Microsoft also have their own free tool for Windows users called Windows Defender. Among the paid-for Anti-Spyware software Webroot's Spy Sweeper regularly picks up awards from computer magazines.

PASSWORDS

More and more people are accessing secure sites for shopping, banking, etc. Provided you take sensible precautions it's a great way to shop.

If you've been doing any online shopping you'll be used to dealing with secure sites. Whatever methods these sites use to secure their servers or encrypt your traffic, if they're accessed by passwords then you share some of the responsibility for the security on your transactions.Whatever methods these sites use to secure their servers or encrypt your traffic, if they're accessed by passwords then you share some of the responsibility for the security on your transactions.
Here are a few tips on how to keep unauthorised users from accessing your accounts:

Be inventive with your passwords.Be inventive with your passwords.
Don't use easy to guess stuff that a lot of people know about you or can find out. Use a mixture of uppercase and lowercase characters, numbers and special characters (again be inventive. Just using a 1 instead of the letter i is no use if it still spells out an easy to guess word).

If you have many sites with logins, you can have individual passwords for each that are nearly unbreakable this side of the NSA using programs that manage your logins.  You only need to remember one master password to log into any site with this solution.  Roboform is one very good and inexpensive one that even lets you securely use your passwords on any internet connected system.  (www.roboform.com)