Building a Sea Change in Safe Computing

Some of the information on your computer is irreplaceable.  There are many threats out in cyberspace and you must do everything to protect your computer and the data contained in it.  It is estimated that as many as 30 percent of American consumers have experienced identity theft.  Yet many computer users don’t know how to protect their computers and themselves from Internet assaults.

Beyond identity theft your computer is vulnerable to viruses, worms, spam or phishing attacks.  It is unfortunate that the Internet has become a tool for criminals who want to destroy your computer for fun or profit, but it is a fact of life.  Any desktop or laptop that connects to the Internet should be considered at risk.

But there is good news too.  There are many steps you can take to minimize the threats to your personal and business information.

 

The following is a list of the minimum hardware and software products that should be part of your system to protect yourself and your company. 

  • Hardware firewall will make your computer invisible to the Internet making it difficult for hackers to hijack your machine
  • Software firewall will prevent any unwanted communication between software programs on your computer and the outside world

  • Antivirus program will identify and remove any dangerous files or email attachments before they infect your desktop or laptop

  • Antispam filter helps to quarantine unwanted emails making them easier to deal with.

  • Anti-adware scanner will delete adware, spyware and browser hijackers.  This will minimize the possibility of someone taking control of your machine in the future

  • Update-management software will keep your computer up to date with the latest version of your operating system.  This will help close the loopholes that are discovered by operating system providers.  This can be the Windows update program for an individual machine or a more sophisticated product to manage multiple machines

In addition to the threats from outside, you must also be aware of environmental or internal problems that exist.  There are critical steps you can take to protect yourself and your business, yet it is amazing how many people do not implement these basic tools to safeguard their important information.

  • Backup, Backup Backup!   Create and stick to a backup schedule.  Store periodic backups off-site

  • Battery Backup/Surge Protector Install a device to protect your hardware against power problems.  It will also allow you to shut your computer down gracefully in the event of a power failure

  • Wireless Network Security Install software to prevent unauthorized access.  All wireless routers are shipped without any security enabled, making your network available to anyone

  • VPN Software Install software for secure remote office connections