I regularly provide the following advice to family and friends:
Security is about not being the weakest on the block. A hacker is like a burglar, unless they are after something in particular, they will go for the weakest
target. Don’t be the house with no lights on, no alarm and a pile of papers
on the front doorstep!
This list isn’t exhaustive and covers Windows only. As a minimum:
Run Anti Virus Software and obtain
vendor updates as often as possible (it may prompt you, if it does don’t ignore it).
Don’t rely on your Internet Service Provider (AOL etc) to pick up everything.
Email is not the only threat.
Run Anti Spyware Software regularly. Spyware ranges from cookies tracking the sites you visit to Trojan Horse programs. At best Spyware slows your machine.
Run a Software Firewall. This restricts access to your computer.
There are commercial software bundles that provide these software tools. McAfee and Norton are the two main competitors in this field. PC’s, or other hardware, may come with trial versions (e.g. Dell provides a McAfee trial, Linksys
Norton).
Also Useful:
When you delete a file an image will
be left on your PC. A File Shredding Program will remove it completely. If your data is very sensitive hide and encrypt it.
Install a Hardware Router (share
Cable and DSL connections) and improve security.
If you have a Wireless Router as
part of your network, ensure the following security features are used:
¨ Change the network name (SSID)
and don’t broadcast it. For example, the Linksys default is Linksys.
¨ Reset the administration
password.
¨ Use MAC filtering. The MAC is the computers address each computer has a unique one (it can be forged or spoofed though). You can restrict access to specific machines.
¨ Set the wireless router to
use encryption. WEP, a method of encryption that can be broken will slow an attacker. There are more secure methods provided by newer wireless materials.
¨ Site your wireless router
in the middle of your house; this helps make sure you get a full signal in all rooms.
Site it by a Window and you will be broadcasting to the street!
