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What should I do to protect my home computer?

 

Securing your home computer is not a task to take lightly. There are many security options  to consider, research to determine what will work best for you, what your computer needs are and how you plan to use your computer. Take time to learn about computer security and the many options available to protect your computer. Lets begin with the basics to get you started.
 
Windows Updates – Out of the box (meaning just what it says, the product as it exists when you open up the box) Microsoft Windows XP/Vista is not preset to protect you while you surf the Internet, you need to install patches. Patches are small downloadable pieces of software that “patch” vulnerabilities found in the Microsoft software. Patches will fill in the holes that hackers may use to enter your system. Microsoft works hard to keep your computer protected by coming out with security patches on a regular basis.
However, you can not rely solely on patches to protect your computer system, but it is a big step in the right direction. Please read and follow the steps listed below to help you download the patches that Microsoft distributes.  
To do your updates:
For Windows XP
 
  1. Go to http://www.Microsoft.com on the Internet. When the page opens, you will see options for possible tasks.  Hover your mouse over “downloads and trials,” there will be a dropdown box that opens with more options.
  2. Click on “Microsoft Updates”
  3. Once the new screen comes up there will be the options “Express” and “Custom”.
  4. For the most critical patches click “Express” for everything else click “Custom”.
  5. Microsoft will do a scan on your computer to see what patches have already been installed and give you the recommend patches.
  6. In the top left hand corner of your screen you will see  a “Install now” option, click that. 
  7. The patches will install automatically. Once the installation is finished, restart your computer so the patches will be properly loaded.
 
For Windows Vista
  1. Click on “Start” on the desktop, lower left hand corner.
  2. Click “All Programs”
  3. Click “Windows Updates”
  4. On the top left hand side of your screen you will see “Check for Updates”. Click on that button.
  5. Microsoft will automatically do a scan on your computer to see what patches have already been installed on your computer and provide you the recommend patches.
  6. If there are updates click “Install Now”
  7. Once the installation is complete, restart your computer to the patches will properly load.
 
 
AV (Anti Virus) –  
 
Antivirus protection is the second layer of your computer security. When choosing an AV product you will discover that there are many different brands that offer antivirus protection in a number of different ways. This can be very confusing.
First, let’s define what AV software is. AV software is a program that looks at each file on your computer to search for specific patterns that match a profile, called a virus signature. For each file that matches a signature, the AV software will provide several options on how to respond. Options such as removing the pattern or destroying the file are presented to you. You may then decide on how you would like to handle the situation. The program will let you know what the recommended options are. Once you select an action, the software will automatically run the action.
To choose an AV product that is best suited for your computer usage, you will want to do some research. Choosing an AV product is sort of like picking out a T.V. You want the best one for your money and one that meets your needs and situation. The best first step is to look at independent reviews and charts of all the AV programs available to you. A simple Google search will do just fine for that. (Type in “antivirus software.”) Use the chart below for the features that are important to selecting good AV software and how the product you are looking at rates in each category.

On-Access Scanning
On-demand scanning
Scheduled Scanning
Manual Scanning
Adware/spyware scanning
Auto-clean infected files
Quarantines infected files
Email protection
Registry Startup Protection
Automatic updates
Technical Support
Virus Definitions updated
 
 
 

 
While doing your research for AV software be very careful about pop-up ads or offers for freeware (freeware is a free version of the software you are looking at). You may be tempted to click on these links. DO NOT CLICK ON THEM! Most reputable companies do not use pop-up ads. The links may be sites set up by hackers or may contain malware (software with viruses imbedded in them). Do not download any freeware offers either. If you are interested in something you see in the pop-ups or freeware ads, write the information down and then type in the name of the product in Google. If you decided to go with a freeware or pop-up ad software title be sure to download it from the manufacturer’s website.
A couple of big names in the world of antivirus software are McAfee and Symantec Norton. These are well established companies and you can feel safe in purchasing products from these companies. We are not recommending these companies over any other, but this is also a good place to start your research.
You can also go to your local Staples or other computer store and purchase your antivirus software. The employees at these stores are knowledgeable in the products and the features each offers and they can help you out. There are pros and cons to this approach. The cons are that you may be limited in what the store offers for selection. The primary pro is that you can ask questions and get answers right away.
Do what you are most comfortable doing. The bottom line is, be sure to have an antivirus product running on your computer as soon as possible!
So you have picked your AV, what is next? Well, two easy steps.
  1. Updates – Your AV will have an automatic update feature. Make sure you do not cancel the update. Normally after an update it will ask you to restart your computer for the updates to take effect, be sure you do this.
  2. Scanning – The AV should have scheduled, automatic scanning feature as part of the product. You will probably need to read the manual to find out how to set this up.  Automatic scanning can take quite awhile as it runs through every file on your computer. Find a time when you know you will not be using the computer, such as after you go to bed. Do not use your compute when the scan is running. The scans will start running automatically.
Firewall –
 
Firewalls come in the form of hardware as well as software. Since this discussion is focused on your home computer, the firewall software is what well be discussed. What is a firewall? A firewall is an application that shields your computer from access by unauthorized users i.e. hackers, viruses and other malware. For an in-depth discussion of firewalls, research it on Google.
 
How to choose a firewall:
Once again, you will need to do some research before choosing a firewall. Please read the section on AV software as most of the same issues will apply.
  1. Browse the Internet by typing "home firewall" or "personal firewall". Visit the manufacturers' websites and compare products and prices.
  2. Once you have a defined list of products that you have researched, visit Consumer Search for ratings and comparisons of the most popular home/personal firewall products.
  3. Look for a firewall program that will defend your computer against Trojan viruses, scan Internet traffic, prevent spyware and malware from contaminating your computer and secure personal data.
Once you have chosen a firewall you will need to modify it to meet your needs. This is a pretty simple task as the firewall program will prompt you as you go through the options. The prompts should look similar to the screen shot below:
(ZoneAlarm is being used only as an example. Other products will give you similar prompts.)
The prompts will show you the program that is trying to access the Internet, in this case, Google Talk. The prompt is asking you if you want to allow Google Talk to access the Internet. Google Talk is an instance messenger. In this case, you want to say Allow. If this is a program you will use often you will want to click “remember this setting.” If you do not know what a particular program is, you should open up your web browsers and type in the application name. In the above example, it would be googletalk.exe. You can get information on the program and make your decision. If the program is not something you want, click “deny.”
When the firewall detects malware or a hack attempt, it will automatically block access. If that happens, it will produce the following alert:
 
This is a basic overview on how to protect your computer.  There is much more you can do to protect your computer and the information it holds. Some additional protection software is a spam guard to help block all that unwanted e-advertisements, ad aware is another program that keeps out unwanted activity. The best option is to do your research.  
If you have questions please feel free to email us with your questions or you can share what you have done to protect your computer.