Computer Spot

Many people are using their computers for everything from communication to online banking and investing to shopping. As we do these things on a more regular basis, we open ourselves up to potential hackers, attackers and crackers.

Perhaps some some of them may be looking to phish your personal information and identity for resale, others simply just want to use your computer as a platform from which to attack other unknowing targets.

Does it sound too scary ? Don’t worry, we can do some action to protect from their attack.

Below are a few easy, cost-effective steps you can take to make your computer more secure.

1. Always make backups of important information and store in a safe place separate from your computer.
2. Make sure to update and patch your operating system, web browser and software frequently.
   If you use a windows, update your windows regularly. This program will help you to find the latest patches for your windows computer. If you also use microsoft office software, you can go to microsoft office update to locate possible patches for your office programs.
3. Don’t forget to install a firewall.
   If you don’t have a good firewall, many kinds of destruction file can easily access your computer from the internet, such as viruses, worms, trojans, malware and adware. Consideration should be given to the benefits and differences between hardware and software based firewall program.
4. Review your browser and email setting for optimum security.
   Why? Active-X and JavaScript care often used by hackers to plant malicious programs into your computers. While cookies are relatively harmless in term of security setting for the “Internet Zone” to High and your “Trusted sites zone to “medium low”
5. Install anti virus software and set for automatic updates so that you raceive the most current versions.
6. Ignore unknown email attachments
   It simply not enough that you may recognize the address from which it originates because many viruses can spread from a similar address.
7. Do not run programs from unknown origins.
   Also, do not send these types of programs to friends and coworkers because they contain funny or amusing stories or jokes. They may contain a Trojan horse waiting to infect a computer.
8. Disable hidden filename extensions.
   By default, the Windows operating system is set to “hide file extensions for known file types”. Disable this option so that file extensions display in Windows. Some file extensions will, by default, continue to remain hidden, but you are more likely to see any unusual file extensions that do not belong.
9. Turn off your computer and disconnect from the network when not using the computer. A hacker can not attack your computer when you are disconnected from the network or the computer is off.
10. Consider making a boot disk on a floppy disk in case your computer is damaged or compromised by a malicious program. Obviously, you need to take this step before you experience a hostile breach of your system.