If you have a computer, you are susceptible to a virus, spyware, or some other form of malware. If you don’t take measures to protect yourself, these harmful programs will infect your system. Some will be relatively harmless, others can delete your precious pictures, files, or even steal your identity.
You don’t really need to understand what malware is or why people create these programs. All you need to know is that you don’t want it on your computer and some basic steps to protect yourself.
Although no solution is guaranteed to be 100 percent fool proof, if you follow these basic steps your chances of infection will be dramatically reduced.
1. Be cautious when using the internet, if you are not sure that what you are doing or clicking on is safe, don’t do it.
2. Install a router between the box from your internet provider and your computer. You can pick up a cheap router for $20 – $40 from any electronics store.
3. Install a reputable antivirus program. Read about the software on www.download.com to make sure it is of decent quality. Pick something with at lease 4 out of 5 stars. The antivirus products advertised on this site will also meet most peoples needs.
4. Install a reputable antispyware program. Read up on it the same as you would for the antivirus program. Antivirus and antispyware programs are different and you will need both. Some companies will offer packages that are all inclusive, for example: Norton Internet Security. The all inclusive packages tend to be bloated and will slow your computer down the same as a virus would, as a general rule of thumb stay away from them.
5. Only renew your protection software once at most. Companies that create protection software are always coming up with better ways to find and stop malware. These methods always make it into their latest software. When you renew your license on older software you miss out on these latest and greatest protection methods.
6. Update your protection software at least once a week. If you are not sure how to do this, once the software is installed, click on help and search for update. The topics that come up will tell you how to update the “definitions”.
7. Scan with your antivirus and antispyware programs at least once a week. There shouldn’t be anything on your system, but this checks to make sure nothing made it past your defenses in the last week.
8. Download and install all critical updates from Microsoft. This will be turned on by default, don’t turn it off and don’t let your friends turn it off. These updates will close security holes and help ensure you are safe.
9. Don’t open email that is being forwarded all over the place and if you do, please don’t forward it.
I will talk in a later posting about how to make safe choices on the internet, but until then:
Don’t install software unless you are sure it’s safe
Don’t click on free offers
Do not illegally download music, movies, or software
Dead everything before you click on it
And most importantly, if you are not sure about something, don’t do it.
