Version 2008 (new!)
1. Keep viruses out
There
are hundreds of new viruses created every month. Some are
relatively harmless, but most are designed to delete files,
compromise your confidential information, or damage your
operating system. Both PCs and Macs are vulnerable, and the
latest generation of viruses can even spread without human
intervention. To stop them, install reliable antivirus
software and update it regularly.
There
are hundreds of new viruses created every month. Some are
relatively harmless, but most are designed to delete files,
compromise your confidential information, or damage your
operating system. Both PCs and Macs are vulnerable, and the
latest generation of viruses can even spread without human
intervention. To stop them, install reliable antivirus
software and update it regularly.
There
are hackers lurking in every corner of the world. Some are
bored teenagers with minor technical skill, some are
professionals, and some are just vandals. But they all have
a lot of help: at last count, there were over 30,000 Web
sites dedicated to helping hackers break into computers. And
if one of those computers is yours, hackers can damage your
files, steal your personal information, even use your
machine to attack other systems. A firewall separates your
computer from the Internet and controls who or what gets in
or out. It's the most effective defence against hackers,
thieves, and other intruders.
Most
of us get dozens, if not hundreds, of emails every day. Some
are unsolicited, some are from friends or co-workers, but
any one of them can carry a virus, worm, or Trojan horse
that can wreak havoc with your computer. The rule of thumb
is this: if you have doubts about an email - you don't know
the sender, the subject line or the purpose of the
attachment seems questionable - don't open it. Instead,
delete both the message and any attachments.
Part
of the fun of surfing the Internet is downloading screen
savers, music, games, applications, and other kinds of
software. But keep in mind that they're often the source of
viruses and other malicious code. Be careful what you
download, and update and run your antivirus software
regularly.
Passwords
are one of your first lines of defence. Don't make them easy
for a hacker to guess. An ideal password is a combination of
random letters and numbers and contains a minimum of 8
characters (e.g., jb8K5R32). Try to avoid easily guessed
combinations like addresses, phone numbers, and birth dates.
And it's a good idea to change your passwords every three
months or so.
Your
Web browser may offer to remember frequently-used data like
your passwords and credit card numbers. Although it may make
online shopping or banking a little easier, you should
decline the offer. All that vital and potentially costly
data will be stored on your computer's hard drive, which
means it could be accessible to hackers all over the world.
On
the Internet, your children may be exposed to all kinds of
inappropriate material. Or they may be tricked by others
into divulging confidential information. You can monitor
your kids' online activities by keeping the computer in a
family room instead of their bedroom. You can also install
special software that blocks access to objectionable Web
sites and potentially dangerous services.
Even
though you may develop friendships online, you should always
be aware that the people you're communicating with might not
be the people you think they are. Never give out personal
information - names, addresses, phone numbers, schools—via
online services like chat rooms, instant messages, email,
and Web forms.
One
way you can keep your valuable information safe is to make a
copy of it. These days, high-capacity disk drives and
CD-burners are available that can quickly copy your valuable
files-sometimes even your entire hard drive -onto a
removable disk or CD-ROM that you can store in a safe place.
OK,
you've installed some security software. But virus writers
and hackers are a productive group, constantly creating and
unleashing new threats. To stop the latest attacks you'll
need to schedule regular updates to your computer security,
preferably once a week or more. Fortunately, with most
software this can be easily done online. You can even
schedule your updates to run automatically.