5 Essential Computer Security Tips

It’s estimated that around 75% of all Americans use their computer on a regular basis. However, a significantly smaller percentage of computer users are aware of the important steps needed to protect their computer’s security. A computer that is vulnerable can be negatively affected by computer viruses, spyware and hackers. In some cases, an improperly secured computer can also result in the theft of personal information, such as credit card or bank account numbers. Having a secure computer is an important step that you can take towards protecting your personal information. Here are five essential tips to help you understand how to protect your computer’s security.

Exercise Safe Internet Browsing

Due to the large amount of information on the internet, most computer users spend their time online. However, there are many malicious programs that may use your internet browser to infiltrate your computer. Always use a “secure” internet browser, and never download a file from a source that you aren’t familiar with.

Be Careful When Installing Programs
When installing software on your computer, it’s always best to exercise caution. Some programs may offer “add-on” features that promise to bring you useful information, or provide a service at no extra charge. Be aware that some of these programs are also designed to collect personal information, which may occasionally be used by a company to develop marketing information. Other programs may change the advertisements that you see on specific websites, based on your browsing history.

Install Anti-Virus Software
Having virus protection is a very useful way to ensure that your computer is protected against potential security issues. Many people do not have virus protection because many programs cost from $20 to $50 for basic levels of protection. However, there are also many free antivirus programs which can help to protect your computer. Here is a short list of some of the best (both free and paid) antivirus software programs.

Free Antivirus Software

• A-Squared Free (Site)
• Avira AntiVir Personal (Site)
• Avast! Free AntiVirus (Site)
• Microsoft Security Essentials (Site)

Paid Antivirus Software

• AVG AntiVirus (Site)
• McAfee AntiVirus (Site)
• Norton AntiVirus (Site)
• PC-cillin (Site)

Update Your Operating System
If you are running a Microsoft Windows operating system, it’s essential that you update on a regular basis. Keeping your version of Windows up to date can help protect your computer from potential vulnerabilities, and may also help improve the performance of your computer. If you don’t have automatic updates enabled, it’s highly recommended that you navigate to the Windows Update page on a regular basis. Your computer will be scanned, and you will be notified of any available updates for your specific version of Windows.  

Monitor Your Active Connections
In order to ensure that your computer is secure, it can be useful to monitor all of the active connections currently running on your computer. The process to do this is fairly simple:

1. Click on your Start menu.

2. In the “Run” or “Search All Programs” box, type “cmd” or “command”. You will then see a box similar to this one:

3. Type in “netstat”, and then hit the enter key.

4. You will then receive a list of your active connections, as well as their status.

5. If you are having trouble identifying what programs are using some of the connections (or are concerned that the connections may be from a spyware program), you can install a program that will help you to identify your connections. Some useful programs for this purpose include:

• FPort by McAffee (Site)
• Active Ports (Site)
• TCPView (Site)

All three of these programs are freeware, and should be able to help you identify your connections.

5 Simple (and Free) Steps to a Secure PC

In today’s age of digitized information, it is essential to ensure your personal data remains secure. Thousands of people each year are victims of identity theft, often because their digital personal information has been compromised. Fortunately, there is an easy five-step process that you can follow to keep your computer secure. This can be done for free, and can be accomplished in a few minutes.

Step One to a Secure PC: Make Sure Windows Update is on Automatic 

Windows Update is responsible for keeping your PC up-to-date. It provides you with security fixes, malware definition updates, and patches for known exploits. A large percentage of viruses are designed to target older versions of Windows. Hackers know that most people do not bother updating, so the odds of successfully infecting a target computer are still fairly high. Stay out of that majority by keeping Windows updated at all times.

Go to the Start Menu, type ‘Windows Update’ in the search box, and select the first option that appears. On the left side of the following window, click ‘Change Settings’ and under ‘Important Updates’ select ‘Install updates automatically’. Click the ‘OK’ button to save your changes.

Step Two to a Secure PC: Install Antivirus Software 

Although an up-to-date Windows system has a good level of security, it is still highly recommended that you install an effective antivirus program. In general, you have two options: you can purchase an antivirus program, or choose a free option. One of the most popular free antivirus programs is Avast! Free Antivirus.

Download Link:

• Avast! Free Antivirus

If you choose to pay for your antivirus software instead, you can also refer to our article: "5 Essential Computer Security Tips" for links to other antivirus programs.

Step Three to a Secure PC: Install Antispyware Software (XP Only) 

If  you’re one of the many computer users that is still running Windows XP, it is essential that you have spyware protection. Unlike newer Windows operating systems, XP does not have a built-in spyware program. Each time you browse the web, you most likely will pick up spyware.  Fortunately, Microsoft published Windows Defender as a free download to provide an added level of spyware protection in Windows XP.

Download Link:

• Windows Defender

Click the “Get it Now” button, and follow the recommended settings to install the program. If you have installed Avast! Free Antivirus, you will actually be protected against spyware as well, since it is included with the software. NOTE: If you have Windows Vista or Windows 7, you already have Windows Defender installed on your system.

Step Four to a Secure PC: Use a Secure Web Browser 

The default browser for Windows is Internet Explorer (IE). While this is most likely the browser you are most familiar with, it is actually one of the least secure browsers available today. There are plenty of better options, all free. Choosing between them is a matter of preference. Google Chrome is the fastest, Mozilla Firefox is the most customizable, and Opera has the highest performance. All three options have better sercurity than Internet Explorer.

Download Links:

• Chrome
• Firefox
• Opera

Execute the setup program, and install with the recommended settings. When you run the browser for the first time, you can import data from Internet Explorer, such as your bookmark folders.

Step Five to a Secure PC: Be Wary of Public Networks 

When traveling, finding an internet connection can be a bit of a challenge. However, it is still possible to find unsecured networks, which you can connect to without providing a special password. It’s tempting to leech off of these networks to get some free on-the-go internet access.

Connecting to an unsecure network is actually a lot more dangerous than many people realize. Because the information that is sent over the network is not encrypted, anyone can “sniff out” packets of data and collect lots of sensitive information. Unfortunately, not all websites conceal the data that you send them. If another person is also connected to the same network, they could theoretically acquire all kinds of personal information. This could include passwords, bank acount numbers, or sensitive login information.

If you absolutely must connect to an unsecure network, make sure you do not access any websites that handle sensitive information. Be certain your firewall is active and running, and be sure you don’t have any files or folders shared without a password. By default, all of these settings should already be in place, unless you manually changed them.