| There are many people who still harbor great fears | | | | 4. Storing Computer Information - It might be that, |
| about the security of the information they have on | | | | some time in the future, you will need to bring in a |
| their computer. Let's face it, there have been so many | | | | technician to reset, restore, upgrade or repair your |
| films and tv programs in which computers have been | | | | computer, in which case you will need your computer's |
| easily hacked into, that it's no real surprise that people | | | | technical data to enable this to be carried out safely. |
| maintain their suspicions. | | | | With Windows, all you need to do is to click Start and |
| Rest assured, though - online computer security is | | | | then select to Run. You will be presented with a |
| possible - you can make your home computer safe | | | | window in which you should type msinfo32 which will |
| and secure, without being an expert and without it | | | | offer you a system window. Once here, select the File |
| costing you a fortune. | | | | Menu and then go to Export, which will enable you to |
| There are seven basic areas for you to concentrate | | | | put all the system information onto a CD for safe |
| upon and the easiest way to examine them is to go | | | | storage and easy future access. If you have a |
| through them in the order in which you should actually | | | | different operating system, you can Google the |
| carry them out. | | | | method of undertaking a similar storage procedure for |
| 1. Anti-virus and anti-spyware software - There is a | | | | your specific system. |
| difference between the two and both need attention. | | | | 5. Backing Up Files - Don't underestimate the value of |
| For example, a computer virus is computer code | | | | backing up your most precious information. Imagine the |
| implanted into your computer by someone else and | | | | potential problems you would have should you lose, for |
| which can be transferred amongst computers. Like a | | | | any reason, the information you store on your |
| biological virus, it can 'spread' itself and some famous | | | | computer. Securely stored back up CDs could make |
| examples of computer viruses have done incredible | | | | life a whole lot more straightforward. |
| amounts of damage by destroying file systems in | | | | 6. Passwords - There's a terrible tendency to choose |
| thousands of computers. A spyware program, as its | | | | passwords that are predictable for other people to |
| name implies, is one which can gather information from | | | | work out. Whenever you need to select a password - |
| your computer - without you even knowing about it, let | | | | for online banking, Paypal or whatever, make sure you |
| alone permitting it. | | | | choose what is termed a strong password. In other |
| It is, thankfully, a straightforward matter to install | | | | words, don't choose your cat's name, your street |
| anti-virus and anti-spyware software onto your home | | | | name and number, or something that could be worked |
| computer which will perform their functions completely | | | | out by someone with just a little knowledge. Instead, |
| to stop rogue viruses and spies invading your privacy. | | | | choose something that is, in effect, not a word with |
| It is best to carry out this procedure the very first time | | | | which people would ever connect you. And don't write |
| you intend to go 'on line'. | | | | it down on a piece of paper stuck to your desk! |
| 2. Computer Firewall - When you install your anti-virus | | | | 7. Protecting Personal Information - There are sure to |
| software, it will have a firewall - a means of stopping | | | | be occasions when you will be required to enter |
| direct communications between your own computer | | | | personal information into your computer when you are |
| and anybody else's without your permission. In other | | | | online. It might be that you are opening an account or |
| words, a computer hacker will not be able to break | | | | buying something with a credit card or simply |
| through into your system. If you have a computer | | | | registering to a site but you might well be asked to |
| which operates using Microsoft Windows XP service | | | | enter information such as your home address, |
| Pack 2 or a Macintosh OS X, then you will find it has | | | | telephone numbers, and other highly confidential data. |
| its own firewall pre-installed for you. All you need to do | | | | As long as you are really careful, you should have no |
| then is to ensure that you read the instruction booklet | | | | problems. You must assess why this information is |
| thoroughly to find out if it is automatically enacted or | | | | needed and how it is going to be used by the |
| whether you have to turn it on yourself. | | | | company requiring it. Make sure that the site you are |
| 3. Software Updates - It is essential that you keep | | | | giving your information to is fully and securely |
| your anti-virus, anti-spyware software and your firewall | | | | encrypted. You can check this because, normally, the |
| as up-to-the-minute as possible. The producers of | | | | site's URL will start with https rather than the |
| these materials are constantly upgrading them to | | | | customary http. If you right click and then select the |
| make sure they stay one step ahead of potential | | | | option labeled Properties, you should see a Connection |
| hackers. Therefore, in order to benefit from these | | | | section which tells you 128 bit encryption ( High ) and |
| updates, turn on the automatic updates feature | | | | that there is a 1024 bit exchange. |
| provided by the software manufacturers so that you | | | | It's also worth noting that authentic emails will not |
| immediately receive the latest technological assistance. | | | | usually require you to log in to a site by directly clicking |
| It's a sad but true fact that hackers have such | | | | onto a link in the email rather than by entering your |
| sophisticated equipment that they can scour | | | | password. It's always advisable to enter your account |
| computers to locate unprotected machines but if your | | | | by logging in fully through the official website, even |
| software is up-to-date they will simply move on from | | | | though it might seem as if it would be quicker clicking a |
| yours to search for others. You don't want your | | | | direct link. |
| information held in the computer to be available to | | | | This might seem like a lot of information to absorb with |
| others - be it online banking details or Paypal accounts | | | | regard to online security but, in reality, most of it is |
| and you don't want people breaking into your system | | | | easily accessible and straightforward and, let's be |
| to send Spam emails from your email address. | | | | frank, it is of paramount importance that we make our |
| Keeping your software updated will help prevent this | | | | computer as safe as we possibly can. |
| from occurring. | | | | |