To save time and in the interests of efficiency, here is a list of the things that should be put on any new computer and some key things to know. These utilities, tools, and methods will ensure security, enable full access to the power of the machine, and simplify maintenance.
Programs to install:
| Anti-virus. | No computer should be run without this vital software. There are many versions made by many vendors, but the one I recommend is AVG. They offer a version of their product that is free for home use and their professional-grade Internet Security product is what I use at the office. It doesn't use a lot of PC resources, it's updated regularly with an internet connection, and doesn't 'nag'. This should be the first thing you install - and I highly recommend installing it before connecting your unprotected PC to the Internet. |
| Firewall. | A software-based firewall watches the traffic going into and out of your PC - stopping many attacks by not letting them communicate. This also gives you the power to control what programs can 'talk' to their programmers via the Internet - something most programs will do without your permission. For home use, I recommend using ZoneAlarm. Set it up to ask before any new communication is allowed access - if you didn't ask for it, then don't allow it. |
| Email Utilities. | If getting viruses, pfishing attacks, or spam via email is a worry for you (and it should be) - then I recommend using Postini. This service catches the vast majority of spam messages for you and emails you a daily report of what it has caught - handy for giving you the ability to look for false-positives, or valid emails that the program thought was spam. It's very inexpensive, and it's the best deal around of its kind. |
| Content Protection. | If kids will be using the Internet on the PC, then I recommend installing a content/website filter. It will not stop a determined kid from finding the bad stuff, but it will help prevent accidents. I recommend using K-9 Web Protection. It's fully customizable and allows for excellent reporting. Another best practice here is to keep the PC in a public area of the house. |
Things to educate yourself about:
As I mentioned in my article about Information Security, the best counter-measures to digital threats are awareness, training, and especially education. Taking some time to learn about a few key things will make your PC experience much safer and less prone to some of the headaches and heartaches associated with computers.
| Email Attachments. | Always beware opening an email if it has an attachment. Turn off any kind of auto-open email feature (like MS Outlook's nefarious Preview Pane). A warning bell should sound in your mind each time you see an email with a little paperclip icon - if you aren't expecting an attachment, then don't open the email. Email or call the sender to confirm what it is before you open it. If you don't know the sender - delete the email at once. |
| Risky Websites. | There are some classes of Website that are just plain bad news. File-sharing, free-stuff sites, 'vice' sites of various sorts, and others all put your PC (and the information on it) at risk. Avoid visiting these sites if you can help it, since they can remotely install viruses, spy-ware and mal-ware, just by visiting the web pages. Know that if you install and run programs from these kinds of sites, you will almost certainly be installing a Trojan horse of one kind or another. |
| Installing Programs. | How much do you know about the author of a piece of software? Do you trust the source not to do anything more than what the program is supposed to do? Many of the 'nifty' and 'free' games, apps, and toolbars available in the wilds of the Internet are loaded with spy-ware at best and outright zombie/bot-net capabilities at worst. This is the reason many PCs slow down over time (and then I get called in - and I'm asked to 'fix' it)... Be selective in what you install on your machine - not all programs are your friends. |
| Privacy. | Never put any sensitive information out on the Internet. Just do not do it. If a website asks for your birthday, put in the correct year, but adjust the month or day. I have an 'Internet birthday' that I always use for this type of request. Use a strong password (mix of upper and lower case letters, with numbers and symbols), and have more than one. Use unique passwords for anything sensitive like online banking, and one of several others for different classes of activities to mitigate your risk. Make up online-only answers (that are not accurate) for security questions like "What is your mother's maiden name?" put in something like "Lawnmower", for example. |
Hopefully these links and ideas will help you out if you are not a geek!
No comments:
Post a Comment