| There are dozens of things that you can do to protect | | | | truly your call and should be congruent to your level of |
| your computer. People sell so many software | | | | computer knowledge. |
| packages and information products you may not be | | | | Anti-virus software should be a must. It has saved my |
| able to get a handle on all of it. Have you wondered to | | | | system many times as well as friends of mine. I had a |
| yourself what the basics are so that you can protect | | | | buddy that downloaded pictures form a digital camera |
| your identity and your data and so that you no longer | | | | that was infected with a virus. They can be anywhere. |
| have to worry? | | | | This is just another layer of defense you should |
| I am not sure if we will ever get to a point that a | | | | consider in your quest to protect your identity and your |
| computer security solution is perfect and we never | | | | data. |
| have to worry but we can get to a point of an | | | | Third, you should consider backing up your system |
| increased security posture. That just means that we | | | | regularly. |
| can take a few steps to help protect ourselves | | | | I am not talking about once a year either. I am talking |
| against the not so nice people in the world. | | | | about using CD, DVD, or an external hard drive and |
| First if you have a computer you should turn on a local | | | | backing up your data daily, weekly, or at least monthly. |
| firewall. | | | | This may not necessarily be a defense but it is a |
| You may say, I am working behind one of those | | | | proactive measure that could save you tons of money |
| routers you can purchase from the electronics store, I | | | | and time. |
| am safe. There is a term in the field that is called | | | | I have known several people who have inadvertently |
| defense in depth. There are many takes on what this | | | | gotten a virus on their computer lost tons of data and |
| actually means and how to implement it but I will be the | | | | information such as pictures and music which were |
| first to tell you every extra security precaution you can | | | | priceless and irreplaceable. They were able to save |
| take will be helpful in the effort to protect your identity | | | | their data because they backed it up regularly. They |
| and your data. | | | | may have lost a few days worth of data but they |
| Each layer of defense will add to your protection. You | | | | retrieved most of it back. They were quickly able to |
| may have a router but go ahead and turn on that | | | | perform a desktop restore and get 90% of their data |
| software firewall that comes with your operating | | | | back. |
| system too. Learn more about your computer so that | | | | Now, one consideration is that if your data changes |
| you can be proactive. You never know when you | | | | regularly you may want to consider backing up your |
| might travel with that laptop and your software firewall | | | | data on a more frequent basis. The reason for this is if |
| saves you from an intrusion. Just be cautious. Most | | | | you have to perform a system restore or a file |
| people lock their doors at night before they go to bed | | | | restore you want to be able to retrieve the most |
| or when they leave for work in the morning. Don't | | | | current data possible. Anyone out there can do this. |
| forget to lock the doors on your computer. | | | | There is backup software all over the web and 9 |
| Second, you may consider installing a well proven | | | | times out of 10 your computer probably has backup |
| anti-virus product. | | | | software built in that you can use for free. |
| There are many packages on the market. Some you | | | | The bottom line is that you should take measures to |
| can get for free and others you can pay for. You | | | | protect your data the same way you would protect |
| need to determine your level of knowledge and how | | | | your house or car. We too many times implement this |
| much support you may require. | | | | on the physical world but forget to do the same for |
| There are many anti-virus vendors that are free that | | | | the digital world. There is a ton of information available |
| have been certified and protect your systems just as | | | | for you to improve your knowledge and understanding |
| well as the pay for kind. The main difference is that | | | | of computer systems and how to protect your data |
| you may get better support from the pay for kind. You | | | | and your identity. Don't become a statistic. Protect your |
| may end up supporting the free kind on your own and | | | | data today. |
| having to do research on the net for answers. This is | | | | |