Computer security, in basic terms means keeping your computer and the data that’s in it safe and secure. More of our personal data is stored in or accessed from our computer, now more than ever before. Yet most people lack even the basic understanding of how to keep their computers safe and secure. By following just a few simple rules you can dramatically improve the overall security of your computer.

The first thing to understand is what exactly it means to be connected to the internet. Your computer connected to the internet is similar to your house in many ways. There are many ways into your house. Windows, doors, etc. The more windows and doors you have, the more ways someone has into your house. An open door doesn’t necessarily mean you are going to be robbed, but it does improve the chances. Complicating matters, the ones that you think are locked, may not be because the lock is faulty or even the door itself may have an as of yet undiscovered flaw that would allow an intruder easy access to your home.

Your computer has many windows and doors, not all of which are locked. New flaws are being found everyday, often with the fix not coming until days after. Just like you wouldn’t leave your front door unlocked, you shouldn’t leave your computer wide open either. The first two things we will discuss to help with this task are installation of a quality firewall and regularly updating your installed software.

Updating your software is becoming easier these days, especially your Operating System. We don’t have the time here to go into detail about the many ways to update the many software packages you may have or use, but generally speaking the software manufacturer will provide you a way to do this automatically via the internet. A good example of this is the Microsoft Windows Update feature. Be sure to get the updates for everything installed on your computer, nothing is too trivial.

There are two basic types of firewalls and both perform the same functions. One is hardware the other is software. A hardware firewall is probably included in your router if you are using one, while you may or may not have a software firewall installed. To continue our house analogy, a firewall is like building a wall and gate around your home and giving the guard at the gate instructions on who to let in and out. While this does give a great deal of protection, it is not all that is required. Someone may know a way around or under your wall, or even be able to coerce the guard into letting them in.

You yourself may unwittingly allow someone in. This could happen by simply opening an email or even simply surfing the net. Spyware, viruses, trojans and the like are ever more adept in their methods of fooling you and your guards. Emails may come from a trusted friend containing a dangerous virus without them even knowing it. This is where the next layer of protection comes in, anti-virus software.

Anti-virus software is a large category these days. Often these packages come as “suites” including a firewall and Spyware scanner. While most of these programs are very effective in their promised tasks, it is not wise to be lulled into a false sense of security by them. They are simply one layer in what should be a multi tiered protection plan for you and your computer. One last important note about anti virus software is to be sure that it updates on a regular basis. New threats come out daily so check its updates manually to be sure they have happened.

Back to our house analogy, we now have all of our windows, doors and other entry ways locked and fully updated. We have a wall around our house with a guard at the gate and we have software scanning everything that comes in past the gate. Sounds pretty good, but there’s one last security hole we need to address, you.

A large percentage of infections are caused by the computer user themselves. The internet is an ever changing place that requires it’s users to be educated about its use. I’m not suggesting that you need to be a computer expert to simply read your email. I am however suggesting that you take some time to educate yourself on some of the dangers that pop up everyday, and the precautions to take in order to avoid them.

In summary, your computer is a powerful machine connected to one of the greatest things ever invented, the internet. This vast resource can be a dangerous place if you are not properly prepared and informed. Regular software updates, a good firewall, anti virus software and a little education are the basics in computer security. Having and understanding these basics will make your computer safer, more secure and more enjoyable.

Securing your computer 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.

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. 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.

FIREWALLL

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.

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. Here are a few tips on how to keep unauthorised users from accessing your accounts:

- 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).

- Use different passwords for different accounts. If you always use the same one and it’s compromised then someone will have access to everything.

- Don’t write passwords down on paper or post-it notes. That’s a hacker’s favourite way to find passwords if they have physical access to your office.

- Don’t get Web browsers to remember your passwords on shared machines or in office areas. If you log into a machine that other users have access to then never use Windows or Web browser mechanisms that remember your account details.

Having different passwords to lots of different accounts does make it more difficult to remember them and it’s important that this doesn’t lead you into bad habits. So what do you do?

You could look at getting some password management software. Naturally, Norton has a password manager, but other good options include “Web Replay” from Deskperience or “PC Password Manager XP” from CPLab.

WHERE TO NOW?

You don’t have to go out and buy every piece of security software right away. Prioritise one or two to start with (I’d suggest Antivirus and Firewall software). Also download trial versions so you can be sure you’re happy with them before you part with your hard earned cash.

Be careful on the Internet, but don’t let it spoil your day.

The applications of the Internet continue to expand every day. Big businesses and small businesses, home businesses and other types are beginning to become dependent on their web connections in order to stay afloat and profitable in the competitive world. One glitch in the system in the form of a computer viruses can end up costing any type of business incredible amounts of money in downtime, repairs, and lost opportunities.

As individuals also begin to use the Internet more and more, personal computers are also increasingly prone to attacks from ever-changing viruses and attacks. These viruses are often developed solely with malevolence in mind, with no direct threat intended to the individual impacted by the virus.

On the other hand, some viruses are intended to crash a system or to gather information about a specific person. It is essential that you keep your computer safe from attack by these viruses.

The first rule of defense in keeping out harmful computer viruses is to avoid opening attachments from unfamiliar e-mail addresses. This is the most common way that a virus developing miscreant will lull the unsuspecting into downloading a computer-crashing program onto their personal system.

These viruses seem able to get into any e-mail server and you must avoid opening the attachment, tempting as it may sound. It is unlikely that anyone has sent you a chance to win a million by finding out your e-mail, so remember that some of the rules of real life apply to cyber space as well: if it sounds too good to be true, it probably is.

The second major step is to obtain some kind of anti-virus software. These programs are available everywhere, and can be obtained for free through reputable companies like Microsoft or McAfee. All of the computer techs I have ever talked to say that the AVG system available for free is just as good as any other software out there when it comes to virus detection and removal. Another good program is the Norton Anti-Virus.

Any software you choose should have a tool which allows you to scan your computer in general, specific programs in particular, and any suspicious documents. It should also allow you to isolate, contain, and remove any viruses found in the scanning.

Scan your entire computer with your software every couple of days, especially if you are a heavy Internet user. New viruses with more cleverly hidden infiltration abilities are appearing every day, and it is imperative to know if you have been affected. Similarly, most anti-virus software will have updates available constantly, and you must take the time to update your program.

Finally, with the amount of software available for other people to damage your computer, you need to be aware when things begin to run in a way they just shouldn’t. When your computer shuts off for no reason, is very slow in responding, or experiences other hiccups, it is time to take it in to the pros to get it checked out.

Doing so will not only remove any undetected viruses (and even with the best software, there still are some that slip through the cracks), it will also stop the spread to any other people you may contact.

We have all heard the term Trojan Horse, but what exactly is it? A Trojan Horse is a destructive program that masquerades as a harmless application. Unlike viruses, Trojan Horses do not replicate themselves, but they can be just as destructive. One of the most dangerous examples of a Trojan is a program that promises to rid your computer of viruses but instead introduces viruses into your computer.

The Trojan can be tricky.

Who hasn’t been online and had an advertisement pop up claiming to be able to rid your computer of some nasty virus? Or, even more frightening, you receive an email that claims to be alerting you to a new virus that can threaten your computer.

The sender promises to quickly eradicate, or protect, your computer from viruses if you simply download their “free”, attached software into your computer. You may be skeptical but the software looks legitimate and the company sounds reputable. You proceed to take them up on their offer and download the software. In doing so, you have just potentially exposed yourself to a massive headache and your computer to a laundry list of ailments.

When a Trojan is activated, numerous things can happen…

Some Trojans are more annoying than malicious. Some of the less annoying Trojans may choose to change your desktop settings or add silly desktop icons. The more serious Trojans can erase or overwrite data on your computer, corrupt files, spread other malware such as viruses, spy on the user of a computer and secretly report data like browsing habits to other people, log keystrokes to steal information such as passwords and credit card numbers, phish for bank account details (which can be used for criminal activities), and even install a backdoor into your computer system so that they can come and go as they please.

To increase your odds of not encountering a Trojan, follow these guidelines.

1. Remain diligent

Trojans can infect your computer through rogue websites, instant messaging, and emails with attachments. Do not download anything into your computer unless you are 100 percent sure of its sender or source.

2. Keep your operating system up-to-date.

If you are running a Microsoft Windows operating system, this is essential.

3. Install anti-virus software.

It is also important that you download any updates frequently to catch all new Trojan Horses, viruses, and worms. Make sure that the anti-virus program that you choose can also scan e-mails and files downloaded through the internet.

4. Install a firewall.

A firewall is a system that prevents unauthorized use and access to your computer. A firewall is not going to eliminate your computer virus problems, but when used in conjunction with regular operating system updates and reliable anti-virus software, it can provide additional security and protection for your computer.

Nothing can guarantee the security of your computer 100 percent. However, you can continue to improve your computer’s security and decrease the possibility of infection by consistently following these guidelines.

It’s not an easy task keeping out security threats such as viruses out of your computer system. In order to accomplish this, you need a strong antivirus program and a good firewall. A firewall is one of the first things I download onto a clean PC. Without it you are vulnerable to hackers as soon as you connect to the internet.

As firewalls go, the one from Zone Labs is one of the most trusted brands in Internet Security for good reason. Their top product, a firewall program that can deliver the goods is ZoneAlarm Internet Security Suite from Zone Labs. Simply put, does a great job of preventing bad things happening to your PC.

ZoneAlarm has received more review recommendations that any other Internet-security software suite because of its superb firewall and antivirus protection. It blocks pop-up ads, protects against identify theft and provides adequate spam filters that are flexible. It even beats the market leader, Norton Internet Security, which is often criticized for excessive system drag.

Its newest version includes these additional features:

•Triple Defense Firewall to prevent spyware from sending your information across the Internet. It also makes your computer invisible to anyone on the Net.

•Smart Defense Advisor which can automatically adjust your security settings for maximum protection against the latest virus and spyware outbreaks.

•Advanced Identify and Privacy Protection to prevent your personal data from leaving your computer without your approval.

The bonus for the average user who cringes at the idea of setting-up one of these systems is that the interface is easier to understand and use in comparison to most if its competitors. If you choose to venture beyond the out-of-the-box default settings, and install a more elaborate filtering, know that this will require some additional time to set up on your part.

Overall, ZoneAlarm Internet Security Suite is a user-friendly, comprehensive security solution that will have your computer safe from Internet hazards and cyber criminals within minutes of installation.

Get the most secure firewall with identity and privacy protection by downloading ZoneAlarm Pro today

Who hasn’t received an email directing them to visit a familiar website where they are being asked to update their personal information? The website needs you to verify or update your passwords, credit card numbers, social security number, or even your bank account number.

You recognize the business name as one that you’ve conducted business with in the past. So, you click on the convenient “take me there” link and proceed to provide all the information they have requested. Unfortunately, you find out much later that the website is bogus. It was created with the sole intent to steal your personal information. You, my friend, have just been “phished”.

Phishing (pronounced as “fishing”) is defined as the act of sending an email to a recipient falsely claiming to have an established, legitimate business. The intent of the phisher is to scam the recipient into surrendering their private information, and ultimately steal your identity.

It is not at easy as you think to spot an email phishing for information. At first glance, the email may look like it is from a legitimate company. The “From” field of the e-mail may have the .com address of the company mentioned in the e-mail. The clickable link even appears to take you to the company’s website, when in fact, it is a fake website built to replicate the legitimate site.

Many of these people are professional criminals. They have spent a lot of time in creating emails that look authentic. Users need to review all emails requesting personal information carefully. When reviewing your email remember that the “From Field” can be easily changed by the sender. While it may look like it is coming from a .com you do business with, looks can be deceiving.

Also keep in mind that the phisher will go all out in trying to make their email look as legitimate as possible. They will even copy logos or images from the official site to use in their emails. Finally, they like to include a clickable link that the recipient can follow to conveniently update their information.
The simple way to check the legitimacy of the link is to point at the link with your mouse. Then, look in the bottom left hand screen of your computer. The actual website address to which you are being directed will show up for you to view. It is a very quick and easy way to check if you are being directed to a legitimate site.

Finally, follow the golden rule to stop phishing.

Never, ever, click the links within the text of the e-mail, and always delete the e-mail immediately.

Once you have deleted the e-mail, empty the trash box in your e-mail accounts as well. If you are truly concerned that you are missing an important notice regarding one of your accounts, then type the full URL address of the website into your browser. At least then you can be confident that you are, in fact, being directed to the true and legitimate website.