Keeping your Computer safe on the internet
By Jeff Manke
In these days of an increasingly web connected world, the computer user can
take several steps ensure that their computer is protected from hackers, spyware
and viruses. Here are the top four things you need to do to keep your computer
spyware and virus free.
Use virus software and update it regularly
Viruses are a constantly evolving threat to computers. Every week malicious
hackers create more computer code that through greater sophistication is
becoming more malicious. I am a fervent minister to all of my clients that they
install and update their computer virus software on a regular basis. That being
said many people call me to fix what viruses have wrought.
I like Norton Anti-virus you can find them at http://www.symantec.com
Install software updates as they become available
Keep your software up to date with the latest patches and service packs. New
software and operating system vulnerabilities are being found on a regular
basis. Hackers exploit these as soon as they are known. Windows XP service pack
2 offers automatic updates that will run with out you having to lift a finger.
They have recently added an automatic update to their office suite that will
update automatically also. You can find more information about updates here
http://office.microsoft.com/en-us/officeupdate/default.aspx
http://update.microsoft.com/microsoftupdate/v6/default.aspx?ln=en-us
Spyware scanning
I cannot count the times I get calls with the complaints of my computer is
running slow and I have tons of pop-ups or my browser doesn't go to the website
I typed in. Most of these symptoms are a direct result of spyware/adware
installed on a system. Spyware and Adware are normally installed surreptitiously
without the computer user even knowing a program has been installed. Lavasoft
offers Ad-aware a great free spyware removal tool at http://www.lavasoftusa.com/
Firewall
Firewalls control who and what can access your computer from the network and
what programs can access the network from your computer. Hackers can exploit
computers in both directions. By getting into your computer from the network a
Trojan horse can be installed. Trojan horses can do a number of things without
the computer user having any idea that something is wrong. For a good free
firewall with more features than the Windows XP firewall can be found at http://www.zonelabs.com/store/content/home.jsp
I hope this primer on has been helpful. I have helped many people who did not
take the time to make their computers less vulnerable to the internet's band of
ne'er do wells. I want to make more people aware of the risks of having an
unprotected computer and give them solutions to help stop the invaders at the
gate.
About the Author Jeff Manke a Microsoft Certified Systems Engineer and writer for http://www.mother-board.info
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