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It is critical to keep your information safe and secure. Follow these simple steps to keep your data safe.
1. Important information should always be backed up and kept in a secure location away from the computer.
2. The operating system, web browser and software should be updated and patched regularly.
3. Get a good firewall. Without a good firewall your computer is vulnerable to viruses, worms, and Trojans, malware and adware from the Internet. Both the benefits and differences of hardware and software based firewall programs should be taken into consideration.
4. Check the settings of both your browser and email for optimum security. Why should you do this? Hackers use both Active-X and JavaScript in order to plant malicious programs into your computers. Cookies, though fairly harmless when it comes to security, track your movements on the Internet and build a profile of you. Internet zone settings should be high and trusted sites should be set to medium low in your security settings.
5. Install antivirus software and set it for automatic updates so that you receive the most current versions.
6. Never open unknown email attachments. Several viruses can come from a known email address so recognizing the address is not enough to protect you.
7. If you don't know where a program comes from, don't run it. Another word of advice is to avoid sending programs like this to your colleagues and friends, even though the content might be entertaining. There might be a Trojan horse that wants to infect your computer, and theirs.
8. If you have hidden file name extensions you should disable them. If the default setting has not been changed, then Windows will automatically 'hide file extensions for known file types." To allow Windows to show file extensions, disable this option. Some will stay hidden, but you will also be able to catch some unusual file extensions that don't belong.
9. When your computer is not being used you should turn it off and disconnect from the network. This will help to prevent an attack from hackers.
10. To protect your computer from a malicious program, you should think about copying a boot disk on a floppy disc, so you will have it saved. Obviously, this is something you need to do this BEFORE your system is compromised.
11. Unrestricted physical access to you computer should be prohibited. Allowing others to use your computer can put the security of your computer at risk if there is sensitive or proprietary information on it.
12. Use strong passwords. Pick passwords that people would have a hard time guessing. Often-used password phrases are names of kids and animals, as well as important dates like anniversaries and birthdays. Since there are passwords required for all you do on the computer, some people generally use the same one over and over. That is not the best move! If you only use one password, a hacker can get into all of your personal information. In the event that you find it absolutely necessary to record your passwords, be sure it is not on a note attached to your monitor! This may seem funny to you, but it is something many people do. And it's a bad idea for obvious reasons!
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