Ways to Keep Your Computer Network and System Safe: 3-7

3. Install Antivirus software. There are plenty on the market, as well as some free offerings. Do a little research prior to install - security applications may be tricky to remove in case you are not completely satisfied with them. You will have to keep your AV software updated at all times, either by running definitions/signatures updates manually, or by setting them to auto-update at least once a week, but make sure your machine is usually on at the time of automatic updates. Make sure your AV software is configured to start with your operating system, and features like self-defense and proactive-defense are enabled, unless you are ok with the risks of disabling them. Regularly perform full virus scans, and always scan any new files before using them, and any newly attached storage, including CD/DVD ROMs.
4. Use firewall: hardware-based, software-based, or rather both. The main purpose of a firewall is to protect your computer network from undesired traffic. Usually it comes with a number of preset rules, but is always customizable. Starting with Microsoft, the XP SP2 Windows machines have it enabled by default. In Mac OS X 10.5.1 and later you will have to enable Application Firewall from System Preferences. Most contemporary routers have hardware-firewall features embedded. If you didn't get a router from your ISP, buy one. You will be able to connect multiple devices to the Internet, set up and secure your home network. And do not neglect changing the default router's access password and use
ame (where permitted).
5. Always secure your wireless network with a strong password. Use numbers, lower and upper-case letters along with symbols to create a passkey that contains at least 8-characters.For your home network use WPA2 standard with AES encryption. It is less prone to hacker attacks if you use a long, mixed, hard-to-guess wireless passkey. When shopping for a new wireless router look for a Guest access feature, which will allow you to grant Internet-only access to your guests with a temporary password and block them from your home network, preventing possible attacks from within.
6. One of most popular ways to compromise someone's machine is through email. Treat your email address as your physical address. Do not divulge it unless you have to, or get a separate one for on-line promotions and offers and examine extreme caution when handling its messages. Don't open unexpected attachments or those sent by unknown parties. The ones that you need and trust you may save to your hard drive and scan with AV software before opening. Never reply to emails asking for your Social Security number, passwords to on-line accounts, or any other personal information you wouldn't share with the whole world, even if those emails look super-legit. Cleanup your mailbox regularly and block unwanted senders.
7. Establish a password policy. Do not store passwords on your computer, or at least use software to encrypt your password files. Do not use one password for all your needs. Utilize pass-phrases and special characters where permitted. Do not resort to easy to guess, common passwords, like Password!, or your kid’s birthday. Change your passwords every three to six months.
For more information, along with other similar articles: http://blog.etech7.com/blog/bid/262748/keep-your-computer-support-plan-options-open

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