While this article applies to all operating systems, it deals specifically with Windows as it represents the Operating system used by most of our members. For Mac and Linux users, not everything may apply, but please make sure you take the equivalent measures for your systems.
There is no 100% guarantee of perfect safety anywhere online, but the following will help.
Operating System: To ensure your operating system is up to date, use Windows Update to update your machine automatically. Windows updates are issued to patch known security problems, fix stability issues, and update some operating system features.
User Permissions: It is not advisable to run your machine under an Administrator account; with both the Mac and Linux, additional credentials and temporary elevation of privileges are required to allow any changes to the system; this can be achieved in Windows by creating a new user account with "basic user" privileges that can be used daily, this permits normal usage of the machine but helps to prevent the unwanted installation of keyloggers and similar malware. This can be done by going to Start - Control Panel - User Accounts and then to Manage another account to create a new user.
Firewalls and Antivirus. Make sure you have both of these installed and kept up to date. These days, to keep this simpler, many of the major vendors offer suites of software that provide anti-virus, a firewall, web browser, and email safety features, as well as scanning tools for other adware/malware that may be out there. I have listed some of the available packages below. Some are paid, and others are free.
- Avast: Free and Paid versions (PC and Mac.)
- ESET. Paid (PC and Mac)
- Kaspersky. Paid
- McAfee. Paid
- Microsoft Security Essentials. Free
- Norton. Paid
- Sophos. Versions for both PC and Mac (Free for Mac)
- Trend Micro. Paid (PC and Mac)
- Webroot. Paid
I recommend buying a good suite rather than relying on a free version. The computer is the tool of your trade, so it is a worthwhile investment.
Malware Scanners: It is a good idea to scan at least weekly for additional malware, such as adware, spyware, browser hijackers, keyloggers, trojans, etc. To do this, I would suggest either Ad-Aware or Malwarebytes. Both of these products offer a free and paid version.
Wireless networking: Where possible, it is best to switch your wireless router settings to a more substantial security level, ensure it is set to WPA2 with AES, and ensure you have a strong password in place (See choosing a strong password).
It is essential to lock down your wireless router to ensure that other people cannot use your wireless network or gain access to the machines on your network. Most service providers will do this as part of your connection setup, but if you are unsure, please get in touch with them. If you have installed your wireless router, please check the documentation on how to make these changes yourself.
File downloads: Some people are too eager to send you links to download or offer pictures through personal messengers such as Skype or Yahoo. Unless you know the person well, I suggest refusing these offers.
All too frequently, the link they send you to or the file you download will be some form of virus or keylogger, allowing that individual to capture your account names, passwords, banking information, and anything else that may be of value on your machine for their own purposes. Being cautious with what you will accept, combined with a good virus/malware product, is your best defense against these individuals.
James
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