Keep Your Computer Secure: Top 10 Tips





It is not difficult to keep your home computer secure, but it requires a little knowledge and good usage practices. Here are some basic tips you can follow to keep your computer virus free.

1. Solo User


Do not let others use or borrow your computer you don’t know. Even if you practice safe use of the computer, there is no way for you to protect your computer against unknown user. So keep your computer under your control. Make sure your computer is protected by a password so that someone cannot jump onto your computer without your knowledge. Log off your computer when you leave so that a password is needed again. Even if a friend or family member wants the computer is used, remind them to be safe when they surf on your machine. Politely ask them not to download anything.

2. Anti-Virus Software


There are many different good antivirus you can buy to keep your computer safe from spyware, viruses or other malware. If you have antivirus in place, make sure you regularly scan your computer and that you pay attention to all warnings on your software. Make sure your software is up to date with all current patches installed and running at all times.

3. Don't Download Everything


Never download software or files from unknown origin. If you are not sure of the website or sender of e-mail, do not download software or open a file. Often viruses arrive in your inbox e-mail disguised as attachments labeled "very important" for you to watch. Prevention is better than cure. Enter all unknown files through a filter to ensure that they are safe for your machine.

4. Make Your Wireless Router Secure


Let the neighbors or other free anonymous surfing on your wireless router Internet is not secure. Make sure your wireless router has a secure password that contains alphabetic and numeric characters along with special characters.

5. Don't Use Pirate Software


Do not use pirate software or computer games for free, it is also very risky. Many viruses and worms are provided along with the software or illegal pirated games. Buy software and games legally, so your machine is safe. Remember: good software worth the cost.

6. Surf Safely


By visiting the website wrong sometimes you can get a computer virus. Some porn sites are known to distribute viruses and worms, as well as naughty photos. Take proactive measures and be picky about where you surf. If your computer warns you about malicious software, remove it quickly.

7. Password Protocol


Make sure that you have a hack proof password for your computer. This means that choosing meaningful letters and numbers, combined with special characters, so your password is not obvious. Many have been hacked by laziness choosing "password" as your password, or using a birth date or the obvious home. Keep your password to yourself, or stored on a personal Rolodex for safe keeping.

8. Back Up Regularly


Regularly backup your information, software, music and photos on an external hard drive. If your computer is damaged or destroyed by hackers, viruses or worms, at least you can replace what you've lost. Keep all copies of the software on the hard drive with serial numbers and activation codes.

9. Safe Disposal


If at some point, you must have a bitter parting on your computer, make sure you have disposed it safely and correctly. Wipe the hard drive and uninstall unneeded software before wreck or recycling your computer.

10. Personal Information Security

 
Never give out personal information such as your social security number by e-mail. Also, when you send personal information over the Internet, take a look at the URL window to verify that the URL has prefix "https", meaning that the site is secure.