These ten steps will help you increase your computer's
security. From discovering viruses to learning how to avoid
them, this article is a must read!
Windows password This is the easiest way to make sure you
know who is using your pc. Choose a lengthy password that
contains capital and lower case letters. Including a number
or two will greatly increase your security. Having a
Windows password means that the only people that can log
onto a Windows session are people that you have granted
access to.
Password manager You should never write your passwords
down. Using the same password all the time will also make
it very easy for hackers to reach your personal
information. So if you can’t write it down and you’re not
supposed to use the same one – how are you supposed to keep
track of all of your passwords? The easiest way to do this
is to use a password manager. We prefer to use Roboform.
Roboform is an easy to use password and profile manager
that docks neatly into your Internet Explorer toolbar and
keeps track of all of your passwords for you. Roboform also
uses a master password system. You will have one password
that accesses all of the passwords in the program. This way
you can keep all of your information safe and secure. You
can download Roboform for free by http://www.roboform.com.
Spyware Remover Next to spam, spyware is the internet’s
biggest annoyance. By definition, spyware is “any software
that covertly gathers user information through the user's
Internet connection without his or her knowledge, usually
for advertising purposes. Once installed, the spyware
monitors user activity on the Internet and transmits that
information in the background to someone else. Spyware can
also gather information about e-mail addresses and even
passwords and credit card numbers.” The amount of spyware
that exists on your pc is dependent on the amount of
internet surfing you do. A good rule of thumb here is to
scan for spyware once per week or whenever poor system
performance surfaces. If you don’t have a spyware scanner,
we recommend http://www.webroot.com.
Antivirus This should go without saying, but if your
computer is connected to the internet you need antivirus
software. With weekly scans and program updates you should
be protected from most threats. For added protection, we
recommend using more than one anvtivirus scanner.
Firewall A firewall will keep unwanted visitors out of your
computer. You can obtain a firewall either by using
software application like ZoneAlarm or Black Ice Defender,
or by using a router with your internet connection. For
more information on routers plese visit http://www.Linksys.com.
File sharing Basically, file sharing programs are the
single biggest security risk you will come across. This is
because the only facts you have about the files you are
downloading are the file name and the file size. It is
quite simple to change a filename to dupe someone into
downloading a virus or other malware like keystroke
recorders. Our advice – stay away from file sharing at all
costs. If you need to use it, make sure you have updated
antivirus software installed and running.
Research In a sentence – know what’s out there.
http://www.Symantec.com has a section on their website
that will serve you well. Knowing what types of viruses exist
and how to avoid them will make you a much smarter
internet user.
Email protection Most of the antivirus applications
available offer email scanning. If yours does not, you will
want to get one that does. Email scanning will make sure
all of your incoming and outgoing emails are safe for both
you and the recipient. Email viruses spread very quickly by
using your address book to propagate. Never read email from
people you don’t know and always make sure your email
scanner is active.
Network security Another way that viruses spread is through
computer networks. We have a few quick tips to keep your
network safe. Always scan any files that come in from other
computers. Even if it’s a file you have brought from home.
Never allow a file to be placed on your network until it
has been scanned. The main server should be the only
computer with file sharing enabled. By not allowing
computer users to transmit files, you can quickly
neutralize a threat.
Maintenance Performing weekly virus and spyware scans will
go a long way to keeping your computer safe. Defragmenting
weekly will also greatly improve performance. If you put in
the effort, you will be rewarded with a safe and smooth
running pc. Not to mention less headaches!
By following these ten guide lines, you will greatly
improve the performance of your computer. You will also
generate peace of mind as you gain a new sense of security.
About the Author:
Michael Silva has been conducting business on the Internet for the past 9 years and has extensive knowledge in the areas of marketing, promotion, training and affiliate programs. To access 1000's of additional articles on a wide range of topics please visit: http://www.ahowtoguide.com/
10 Steps To A Safe, Smooth Running PC
