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Best Practices for a Secure Home Computer
At work, many of us have an Information Technology
person to make sure that our computers are kept up-to-date and safe from the bad people of
the world. Unless you happen to be one of the lucky few that know such a person outside of
your workplace, you may not know what to do to keep your home computer secure.
Most home computer users are left to their own devices when it comes to trying to make
sure their computer system is safe. After you have read through this course, you will have
picked up a few helpful hints to help make your home computer safer.
Who are the bad guys?
Wouldn't it be great if all of the bad guys had the words, "BAD GUY!"
tattooed on their forehead? The same can be said about bad computer software. However,
just as in real life, you cannot always tell the good from the bad from the outside. Bad
software comes in many forms, but the most common form is a computer virus. These are
small computer programs that either by themselves, or in concert with other viruses, do
bad things to computers. Sometimes, they only slow down the computer by making copies of
themselves. Similar to a benign tumor, it gets bigger over time, but does not really hurt
the person.
Other viruses may copy themselves and then send those copies to other computers. Like
the common cold, they spread through contact. While usually not lethal, they do make you
feel bad for a while. When these viruses invade your computer, they may not destroy data,
but often slow it down so much that you have to reload the software to alleviate the
problem.
There are also malignant viruses. These are the Ebola of the computer virus realm.
While the rarest form, they are also the most destructive. Not only do they spread from
computer to computer, but they also destroy files and can damage hardware.
In the world of computers, viruses are not the only thing about which you need to
worry. Worms, Trojans and spyware are additional malicious programs. They may spread via
different methods and may be used to spy on the user's information or habits.
Other bad guys!
The other bad guys are the hackers. These are individuals who either want access to the
information on your computer, or who want to use your computer's processing power for
their own purposes. The first group is known as information thieves and the latter group
is commonly called hackers. Both of these groups use specially crafted programs to trick
your computer into letting them have the information they desire.
So how do they trick the computer?
That is another, more advanced lesson, but let's just say that they lie to your
computer making it think that they are a trusted person. Then they get your computer to
run their programs instead of yours.
How do I Protect Myself
Well, the easiest way is to follow these basic steps:
·1 Update all of the
software on your computer on a regular basis. Windows® has an automatic update feature
that should be turned on. This will automatically load and install any new updates to
Microsoft® software.
·2 Install a
good antivirus and anti-spyware program, and regularly update them. Just as some people
have to get a flu shot each year to keep up with the latest version of the flu, your
computer needs periodic updates to keep up with the latest viruses. It is highly recommend
that software be set to check for new updates daily!
·3 Install and
use firewalls on your computer and your communications equipment. If you are using
Microsoft's Windows XP operating system, it comes with a built-in firewall. If you are not
sure how to enable your firewall, consult the user manual, and see the complementary
courseware within this Training, Education and Awareness Module related to home firewalls.
·4 Do not
download programs from the Internet without being certain you really want the program, and
that you trust the company or person from which it originates. Always ensure that your
antivirus program is working and up-to-date before downloading any files. Parents should
pay special attention to what kids download since many of the games and files available
for kids contain spyware that should be avoided.
·5 Stay away
from websites that seem suspicious. Just as there are parts of town that you do not go
near after dark, there are parts of the Internet to be avoided. If you must visit one of
these sites, disable both JavaScript and Java in your web browser before doing so. If you
do not know how to disable these, you may want to avoid visiting dangerous parts of the
Internet.
·6 Always be
aware of changes in your computer. If it suddenly slows down for more than a few seconds,
there may be something running in the background. If it happens more than once or twice
and does not seem to be related to that new printer you installed, turn it off and take it
to a professional for examination.
·7 Lastly, when
you are not using your computer, turn it off or disconnect it from the network. Unlike the
first computers that had sensitive power supplies, today's modern computers are not
negatively affected by turning the power off and on. In today's broadband world, many
computers stay turned on and connected 24/7. Remember, when you are not using your
computer, others from the Internet may be using it. Many malicious programs wait until the
keyboard has been silent for ten or more minutes before the program starts running at full
speed. The hackers depend on you leaving your computer turned on to be available to them.
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Taking these simple steps can help ensure that your computer is safe and healthy. |
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