|
|
7 Steps to Help Protect Personal Computing Security
Posted On August 1, 2007 by Geeta Priya filed under Miscellaneous
By using common sense and taking action to help protect your computer from unauthorized intrusions and attachments, you can enjoy all that the Internet has to offer. Minimize your risks by following these steps:
i. Assess your risks
ii. Use antivirus software
iii. Keep software up-to-date
iv. Check your security settings
v. Use a firewall
vi. Create strong passwords
vii. Conduct routine security maintenance
i. Assess your risks
What Would You Like to Protect?
Take action to help safeguard your privacy, help protect your computer software and data from damage or misappropriation by others, and help protect your children (and their friends) from objectionable content and contacts on the Internet.
1. Who uses your computer?
a. Do young children or teenagers have unsupervised access to your computer?
When it comes to youngsters and the Internet, risk is a two-way street. Kids with unfettered access to the Internet may encounter Web sites and make contacts you consider objectionable. They also may download seemingly innocent content and inadvertently bring home a virus.
b. Do visitors or friends use your computer?
Friends, relatives, and colleagues who check e-mail or download files on your computer might open a virus-infected attachment. Questionable Web sites may introduce "malware" to your computer.
2. How do you connect to the Internet?
a. Are you always connected (using cable modem or DSL)?
If you have a DSL or cable modem an "always on" connection, your risk is greater because your computer is not a moving target. For example, when you use a dialup connection, your computer gets a different network address every time; however, using DSL or cable, you have a static network address. If you take advantage of the "always on" connection, your computer's address is even more available to hackers.
3. What do people with access to your computer do on the Internet ?
a. Does anyone shop, bank, pay bills, invest in stocks or mutual funds, or manage an IRA online?
While you need to be wary of fly-by-night Web merchants with too-good-too-be-true offers, online electronic security protocols and practices can make purchasing online safer than reading your credit card information over the phone. To help verify that the site
is legitimate and takes steps to help protect your transactions:
· Read the privacy policy.
· Click on the seals of approval links to verify their authenticity.
· Call the company on the phone and judge whether they sound legitimate.
· Before you enter your credit card or personal information: check for "https" instead of "http" in the Address bar and for the "lock" icon at the bottom of your browser's screen on the taskbar.
· Check your monthly statements, watch for unrecognized transactions.
b. Send and receive e-mail?
Attachments are the most frequently used vehicle for spreading viruses. Just opening a message that contains a virus can unleash it. Take these precautions:
· Make sure you have installed Microsoft Outlook® E-mail Security Update for Outlook 2000 or Outlook 98.
· Do not open messages with attachments unless you know the sender. Delete them.
· Be wary of attachments forwarded to you even by names you recognize. If you do decide to open attachment, save them first to your hard drive so your antivirus software can act on it.
c. Visit chat rooms or use instant messaging (IM)?
Although chatting is an engaging activity, there are many dangers involved, including persons masquerading as someone they are not. Online chats may feel like a conversation between three or four friends, but hundreds of people may be lurking and listening.
d. Play online games?
Online gaming is now a worldwide experience, and presents worldwide security issues, especially if you download an attachment or file from another gamer during game play that infects your computer.
e. Download or swap free files, such as music, video, pictures, or software programs (freeware)?
But they can contain viruses or other dangerous intruders like worms or Trojan programs. Worms can "burrow" into your computer and duplicate themselves until they cause your computer to crash. Trojan horse programs are seemingly useful programs (like games or utilities) that act destructively when activated. Before you download:Make sure the file has a digital signature.
ii. Use antivirus software
a. How Can You Get a Virus?
Besides picking up a virus from an e-mail attachment, you can acquire a virus or worm from free content you download from a Web site or on a diskette someone shares with you.
b. What's Your Risk?
Viruses can carry a damaging payload, such as a worm or Trojan horse program. When a virus infects your e-mail or other files, it can:
· Make copies of itself—possibly filling up your disk drive.
· Send itself to everyone else on your e-mail list.
· Reformat your disk drive and/or delete your files and programs.
· Install hidden programs, such as pirated software, that can be distributed and sold using your computer.
c. Get some of the best protection available from antivirus software
Take advantage of options for automatic updates and scheduling routine examination of your computer for the presence of infection.
· Scan incoming e-mail and attachments. Practice good perimeter protection—scan files before you open them.
· Sign up for automatic updates with your antivirus vendor. Let the program help protect you by automatically updating the virus signature files.
· Schedule weekly disk drive scans. Schedule your antivirus program to check your system while you sleep. It will have a report waiting for you in the morning.
· Make sure it's working. Check the antivirus icon on your task bar regularly to make sure your software is active.
d. How to know if your computer has a virus?
Stay alert for these symptoms:
· Computer slows down. This could indicate unauthorized activity going on in the background.
· Very large amount of modem activity. If you have an external modem, you may notice the lights blinking excitedly when you are not actively using the computer, such as downloading a file. You could be supplying pirated software.
· Unusual behavior of your computer.
e. What should you do if you get a virus?
Get the latest "virus signature file" from your antivirus vendor's Web site.
Run your virus protection scan. It will find infected files automatically. It will advise whether it is able to remove viruses from every file or whether you should delete infected files.
iii. Keep software up-to-date
If you do only one thing to help protect the safety of your computing environment, always take prompt advantage of software updates. Updates—known as "fixes," "patches," "service packs," and "security rollup packages"—help to protect your computer and your personal data. Updates address exploitable flaws or introduce additional security features.You should have a plan in place to regularly update any of the following products that you use:
· Windows operating system
· Internet Explorer browser
· Microsoft Office applications E-mail
· Antivirus
· Firewall
iv. Check your security settings
1. Is your software up-to-date?
Before making changes to your settings, always make sure your software patches are up-to-date.Newer versions of software contain more built-in security features.
2. Check your Internet Explorer browser settings
You can adjust settings for the four Web content zones, set preferences about receiving cookies, and activate the Content Advisor.
· Check the Security Tab settings.
· Check the Privacy Tab settings.
· Activate the Content Advisor in Internet Explorer 5.5 and 6.0.
3. Check your Outlook settings
The most common method by which viruses spread is by attachments sent through e-mail.
To help protect against e-mail borne viruses, enable the blocking feature of Outlook Express 6: On Tools menu, click Options. Click the Security tab, then make sure to check the box Do not allow attachments to be saved or opened that could be a virus.
Set up encryption in Microsoft Outlook to help protect the privacy of your e-mail messages.
Use e-mail encryption and digital signature. To help protect your personal information while sending e-mail, it is wise to encrypt it and sign it with a digital signature. Encryption helps provide privacy by encoding your message. A digital signature helps provide authentication that the message is from the sender and not someone else. You can recognize an encrypted message by the red ribbonned seal on the envelope icon in your Inbox.
v. Use a firewall
Good fences make good neighbors. A firewall can help block unauthorized entry into your computer, as well as restrict outbound traffic.Firewalls have the same deterring effect as a home alarm system—would-be perpetrators usually look elsewhere for an easier target.
What's the Risk of DSL or Cable Modem?
If you have a DSL or cable modem an "always on" connection, your risk is greater because your computer is not a moving target. For example, when you use a dialup connection, your computer gets a different network address every time; however, using DSL or cable, you have a static network address. If you take advantage of the "always on" connection, your computer's address is even more available to hackers. There is also a risk from "sharing the wire;" those in your neighborhood with the same cable service could potentially trespass on your computer. A firewall can help protect your computer in such instances.
vi. Create strong passwords
1. What makes a password strong?
Make sure you create a password that:
· Is at least seven characters in length, and the longer the better.
· Includes upper and lower case letters, numerals, symbols.
· Has at least one symbol character in the second through sixth position.
· Has at least four different characters in your password (no repeats).
· Looks like a sequence of random letters and numbers
Make sure you:
· Don't use ANY PART of your logon name for your password
· Don't use any actual word or name in ANY language
· Don't use numbers in place of similar letters
· Don't reuse any portion of your old password
· Don't use consecutive letters or numbers like "abcdefg" or "234567"
· Don't use adjacent keys on your keyboard like "qwerty"
vii. Conduct routine security maintenance
Back up your files and store them away from your computer. Frequent backups just make good sense.
The more virulent types of attacks damage or infect your hard drive and you can lose valuable personal information. By backing up your data weekly you can help protect your important files, computer settings, and irreplaceable digital media.
Consider investing in separate storage media, such as portable external drive hardware and/or a CD burner, to store valuable digital content and take these steps:
Do make sure you have a recent backup before installing new software programs or updates.
Do rotate at least a couple of storage disks, to mitigate the risk of one disk becoming damaged or infected.
Do verify that you can read the backup disk, before considering this task complete.
Do store your backup disks away from your computer.
i. Assess your risks
ii. Use antivirus software
iii. Keep software up-to-date
iv. Check your security settings
v. Use a firewall
vi. Create strong passwords
vii. Conduct routine security maintenance
i. Assess your risks
What Would You Like to Protect?
Take action to help safeguard your privacy, help protect your computer software and data from damage or misappropriation by others, and help protect your children (and their friends) from objectionable content and contacts on the Internet.
1. Who uses your computer?
a. Do young children or teenagers have unsupervised access to your computer?
When it comes to youngsters and the Internet, risk is a two-way street. Kids with unfettered access to the Internet may encounter Web sites and make contacts you consider objectionable. They also may download seemingly innocent content and inadvertently bring home a virus.
b. Do visitors or friends use your computer?
Friends, relatives, and colleagues who check e-mail or download files on your computer might open a virus-infected attachment. Questionable Web sites may introduce "malware" to your computer.
2. How do you connect to the Internet?
a. Are you always connected (using cable modem or DSL)?
If you have a DSL or cable modem an "always on" connection, your risk is greater because your computer is not a moving target. For example, when you use a dialup connection, your computer gets a different network address every time; however, using DSL or cable, you have a static network address. If you take advantage of the "always on" connection, your computer's address is even more available to hackers.
3. What do people with access to your computer do on the Internet ?
a. Does anyone shop, bank, pay bills, invest in stocks or mutual funds, or manage an IRA online?
While you need to be wary of fly-by-night Web merchants with too-good-too-be-true offers, online electronic security protocols and practices can make purchasing online safer than reading your credit card information over the phone. To help verify that the site
is legitimate and takes steps to help protect your transactions:
· Read the privacy policy.
· Click on the seals of approval links to verify their authenticity.
· Call the company on the phone and judge whether they sound legitimate.
· Before you enter your credit card or personal information: check for "https" instead of "http" in the Address bar and for the "lock" icon at the bottom of your browser's screen on the taskbar.
· Check your monthly statements, watch for unrecognized transactions.
b. Send and receive e-mail?
Attachments are the most frequently used vehicle for spreading viruses. Just opening a message that contains a virus can unleash it. Take these precautions:
· Make sure you have installed Microsoft Outlook® E-mail Security Update for Outlook 2000 or Outlook 98.
· Do not open messages with attachments unless you know the sender. Delete them.
· Be wary of attachments forwarded to you even by names you recognize. If you do decide to open attachment, save them first to your hard drive so your antivirus software can act on it.
c. Visit chat rooms or use instant messaging (IM)?
Although chatting is an engaging activity, there are many dangers involved, including persons masquerading as someone they are not. Online chats may feel like a conversation between three or four friends, but hundreds of people may be lurking and listening.
d. Play online games?
Online gaming is now a worldwide experience, and presents worldwide security issues, especially if you download an attachment or file from another gamer during game play that infects your computer.
e. Download or swap free files, such as music, video, pictures, or software programs (freeware)?
But they can contain viruses or other dangerous intruders like worms or Trojan programs. Worms can "burrow" into your computer and duplicate themselves until they cause your computer to crash. Trojan horse programs are seemingly useful programs (like games or utilities) that act destructively when activated. Before you download:Make sure the file has a digital signature.
ii. Use antivirus software
a. How Can You Get a Virus?
Besides picking up a virus from an e-mail attachment, you can acquire a virus or worm from free content you download from a Web site or on a diskette someone shares with you.
b. What's Your Risk?
Viruses can carry a damaging payload, such as a worm or Trojan horse program. When a virus infects your e-mail or other files, it can:
· Make copies of itself—possibly filling up your disk drive.
· Send itself to everyone else on your e-mail list.
· Reformat your disk drive and/or delete your files and programs.
· Install hidden programs, such as pirated software, that can be distributed and sold using your computer.
c. Get some of the best protection available from antivirus software
Take advantage of options for automatic updates and scheduling routine examination of your computer for the presence of infection.
· Scan incoming e-mail and attachments. Practice good perimeter protection—scan files before you open them.
· Sign up for automatic updates with your antivirus vendor. Let the program help protect you by automatically updating the virus signature files.
· Schedule weekly disk drive scans. Schedule your antivirus program to check your system while you sleep. It will have a report waiting for you in the morning.
· Make sure it's working. Check the antivirus icon on your task bar regularly to make sure your software is active.
d. How to know if your computer has a virus?
Stay alert for these symptoms:
· Computer slows down. This could indicate unauthorized activity going on in the background.
· Very large amount of modem activity. If you have an external modem, you may notice the lights blinking excitedly when you are not actively using the computer, such as downloading a file. You could be supplying pirated software.
· Unusual behavior of your computer.
e. What should you do if you get a virus?
Get the latest "virus signature file" from your antivirus vendor's Web site.
Run your virus protection scan. It will find infected files automatically. It will advise whether it is able to remove viruses from every file or whether you should delete infected files.
iii. Keep software up-to-date
If you do only one thing to help protect the safety of your computing environment, always take prompt advantage of software updates. Updates—known as "fixes," "patches," "service packs," and "security rollup packages"—help to protect your computer and your personal data. Updates address exploitable flaws or introduce additional security features.You should have a plan in place to regularly update any of the following products that you use:
· Windows operating system
· Internet Explorer browser
· Microsoft Office applications E-mail
· Antivirus
· Firewall
iv. Check your security settings
1. Is your software up-to-date?
Before making changes to your settings, always make sure your software patches are up-to-date.Newer versions of software contain more built-in security features.
2. Check your Internet Explorer browser settings
You can adjust settings for the four Web content zones, set preferences about receiving cookies, and activate the Content Advisor.
· Check the Security Tab settings.
· Check the Privacy Tab settings.
· Activate the Content Advisor in Internet Explorer 5.5 and 6.0.
3. Check your Outlook settings
The most common method by which viruses spread is by attachments sent through e-mail.
To help protect against e-mail borne viruses, enable the blocking feature of Outlook Express 6: On Tools menu, click Options. Click the Security tab, then make sure to check the box Do not allow attachments to be saved or opened that could be a virus.
Set up encryption in Microsoft Outlook to help protect the privacy of your e-mail messages.
Use e-mail encryption and digital signature. To help protect your personal information while sending e-mail, it is wise to encrypt it and sign it with a digital signature. Encryption helps provide privacy by encoding your message. A digital signature helps provide authentication that the message is from the sender and not someone else. You can recognize an encrypted message by the red ribbonned seal on the envelope icon in your Inbox.
v. Use a firewall
Good fences make good neighbors. A firewall can help block unauthorized entry into your computer, as well as restrict outbound traffic.Firewalls have the same deterring effect as a home alarm system—would-be perpetrators usually look elsewhere for an easier target.
What's the Risk of DSL or Cable Modem?
If you have a DSL or cable modem an "always on" connection, your risk is greater because your computer is not a moving target. For example, when you use a dialup connection, your computer gets a different network address every time; however, using DSL or cable, you have a static network address. If you take advantage of the "always on" connection, your computer's address is even more available to hackers. There is also a risk from "sharing the wire;" those in your neighborhood with the same cable service could potentially trespass on your computer. A firewall can help protect your computer in such instances.
vi. Create strong passwords
1. What makes a password strong?
Make sure you create a password that:
· Is at least seven characters in length, and the longer the better.
· Includes upper and lower case letters, numerals, symbols.
· Has at least one symbol character in the second through sixth position.
· Has at least four different characters in your password (no repeats).
· Looks like a sequence of random letters and numbers
Make sure you:
· Don't use ANY PART of your logon name for your password
· Don't use any actual word or name in ANY language
· Don't use numbers in place of similar letters
· Don't reuse any portion of your old password
· Don't use consecutive letters or numbers like "abcdefg" or "234567"
· Don't use adjacent keys on your keyboard like "qwerty"
vii. Conduct routine security maintenance
Back up your files and store them away from your computer. Frequent backups just make good sense.
The more virulent types of attacks damage or infect your hard drive and you can lose valuable personal information. By backing up your data weekly you can help protect your important files, computer settings, and irreplaceable digital media.
Consider investing in separate storage media, such as portable external drive hardware and/or a CD burner, to store valuable digital content and take these steps:
Do make sure you have a recent backup before installing new software programs or updates.
Do rotate at least a couple of storage disks, to mitigate the risk of one disk becoming damaged or infected.
Do verify that you can read the backup disk, before considering this task complete.
Do store your backup disks away from your computer.