| Most of us use a PC these days, but how many | | | | unwanted advertisements and spoofs/redirects |
| of us are really serious about securing it? | | | | browser addresses. Thus, you never know that |
| Well, not most of us! They just need to get | | | | the form which you have filled 10 minutes ago |
| their job done sitting on the PC and hence | | | | is not from the original site! To protect |
| look no further. But they do find themselves | | | | your PC against these nasty pests, you need |
| in great trouble when the PC crashes, files | | | | an Anti-Spyware/Adware package.Some of the |
| are corrupted, login information are stolen | | | | free packages are:a. Spybot S&D: |
| or attacked by viruses and malwares. Now, we | | | | |
| know that "prevention is better than cure" | | | | b. Adaware: |
| and "self help is the best help". So | | | | |
| according to the lines of these famous | | | | c. MS Antispyware: Backup OftenIt is really |
| proverbs, I will try to highlight some tips | | | | important to backup your valuable data often |
| through which a newbie user would be able to | | | | so that you can get a copy at hand when there |
| secure his PC. This article even applies to | | | | is a system crash, virus attack or hacking. |
| advanced and experienced users alike. So read | | | | Just keep only the important files and |
| on and help yourself to ward off your PC | | | | folders as backup and not your whole disk! A |
| security woes.1. Use an AntivirusIn the era | | | | habit of backing up never upsets you in the |
| of high-speed internet and portable media, | | | | long run. It is a good idea to backup your |
| you just cannot afford to compromise your PC | | | | data on a different hard-disk or removable, |
| and valuable data. So, Antivirus software is | | | | cheap media like CD, DVD, and Pen-drives to |
| a must for each and every PC user. The | | | | name a few. There are many free and paid |
| Antivirus stays active in the system memory | | | | softwares to choose from.5. Follow Some Good |
| and monitors your file transfers, network | | | | Habitsa. Do not ever give out your password |
| internet connections, and programs for | | | | login information to anyone.b. Don't give out |
| suspicious activities and keeps away harmful | | | | your credit card number or any online banking |
| computer viruses, worms and trojans from | | | | login to anyone.c. Use a strong password |
| playing devil on your PC. It can even clean, | | | | which is difficult to guess; containing |
| heal or quarantine affected files already on | | | | alphabets, numbers and special characters.d. |
| your PC and keeps your data safe. | | | | Password protect or encrypt confidential, |
| | | | valuable information to avoid being abused by |
| There are many AntiVirus Packages available, | | | | someone.e. Always set a password for your |
| out of which many are free to use.Some of the | | | | Operating System/BIOS logon.f. Don't open |
| free packages are:a. AVG Free Edition: | | | | suspicious email attachments or knowingly |
| | | | send someone an infected file.g. Do not mount |
| b. Avast! Home Edition: | | | | a known virus affected media to a PC without |
| | | | Antivirus protection.h. Don't reply to emails |
| c. Antivir Personal Edition: Use a | | | | asking for confidential login information |
| FirewallTo protect your PC with network | | | | even if they seem to come from the company or |
| internet connection from the prying eyes of | | | | website. It might be a phishing attempt.i. Do |
| hackers and abusers, it's a necessity to | | | | not reply to spam messages or scam emails |
| install a Firewall software. A firewall is | | | | like "You have won $10million lottery sum!". |
| simply a piece of software that sits between | | | | If you reply to spam emails, the spammers |
| your PC and the outside world (network/www) | | | | become aware of your activity and spam you |
| and allows certain programs/data to pass | | | | even more. Just ignore them and keep the spam |
| through it, thus filtering the traffic based | | | | filter on.j. Don't post your email id all |
| on configured rules. | | | | over the internet (e.g.-forums)...spam bots |
| | | | might be harvesting them. Use format.To |
| Like Antivirus softwares, the list of | | | | conclude, I would like to say that the steps |
| firewall softwares is also long...and there | | | | that have been outlined above are not too |
| are a number of free options available.Some | | | | difficult or time consuming to follow. You |
| of the free packages are:a. ZoneAlarm Free: | | | | would certainly benefit by using those |
| | | | precautions and measures to secure your |
| b. Kerio Personal: | | | | computer. Remember, if you secure your own |
| | | | PC, you not only help yourself, but many |
| c. Outpost Free: | | | | other users too. So spread the word and start |
| | | | acting now...Good Luck!Agnivo Roy is a |
| d. Sygate Personal: Use an AntiSpyware | | | | student from India, currently pursuing BCA. |
| AdwareEvery passing day gives birth to a | | | | He is the webmaster of The Helios IT Forum [ |
| score of new malware, which is any sort of | | | | ] & ArticleWiz - FREE Article Directory [ ]. |
| program written solely to get itself | | | | He likes to spread knowledge and help users |
| installed on the victim's PC without his | | | | through his forum, websites and offers free |
| knowledge, monitor his activities/logins and | | | | PC advice. He invites you to visit his |
| send them to a hacker for identity theft. | | | | websites and awaits your feedback at |
| Similarly there are adwares which deliver | | | | agnivo007[at]gmail. |