Protect Yourself and Your Computer From Attacks

Spyware. Computer Viruses. Trojan Horses. Phishing. Adware. The internet today can be a dangerous place. Sometimes the consequences associated with these dangers are not too severe – such as in the case of excessive pop-up ads associated with adware. Unfortunately the consequences associated with the rest of these pests can be more problematic:

Your computer can run more slowly.
Your computer might lock up frequently or crash.
You might lose important files stored on your computer.
Your personal privacy might be compromised.
Your identity might be stolen through a Phishing scam.

Just thinking about all the dangers on the internet can be quite overwhelming. What do you really need to protect yourself and your computer from an attack? How much will it cost to secure a computer? The good news is that many things you can do won’t cost you anything, and the costs associated with the other solutions are not outrageous. Here are some things you can do to protect yourself and your computer:

Make sure you are current with all updates and security patches for the version of Microsoft Windows you run. You can set your computer to receive these updates automatically – go to Microsoft’s web site (www.microsoft.com) to find specific instructions.
Have a good anti-virus program installed on your computer, and keep your virus definitions up to date. If your software program allows you to check automatically for updates, be sure to turn on that feature. Run a full system scan of your computer at least once a week.
Install a good anti-spyware/spyware removal program on your computer. Get a program that gives you updates as soon as they are released, and one that gives you real time protection against future infections. Run a full system scan at least once a week.
Use a personal firewall. A firewall controls the communication to and your computer from the internet. There are two types of firewalls – hardware based and software based. Many wireless and wired routers have a firewall built into them already. If your router doesn’t have this feature, you can purchase a software based one.
Set your email programs to read messages in text format rather than HTML to give you added protection against a drive by download program.
Always run the most recent versions of your internet browser and instant messaging programs.
Set your internet browser security to the highest (most secure) levels.
Be cautious if you receive an email from someone you don’t know. Never open an attachment to an email if the sender is not known to you.
Don’t provide personal information in response to any email messages. Be wary of clicking on the links in email messages that ask for your personal information.

Protecting yourself and your computer from the dangers of spyware, viruses and the like is not as complicated or as difficult as you might think. Most of the software programs you’ll find on the market are easy to install and configure. A few minutes of preparation and some common sense are all you need to protect yourself and make your internet experience safe, secure, and most of all, fun.

Updated: 04/10/2007
Copyright @2007 Protect Yourself and Your Computer From Attacks