Anti-Virus
A computer virus, much like an organic virus, is a self-replicating program that can infect a computer. It can do nothing more than spread itself to other computers, only having a small effect on your PC, or it can do large amounts of damage to the operation of the PC and the data on it. Any PC that access’s the internet for e-mail, web surfing and downloading (including music, pictures and movies) is at risk. The best defense is a good Anti-virus program and being sure that its “definitions” of viruses is kept up to date. Don’t let its protection expire on you. Anti-Adware/Spyware
Adware/Spyware is a type of threat used to make money. It is different from virus’s as it does not use your computer to spread itself back out to other computers. It comes from infected e-mails, poisoned web sites and infected downloads. This threat is one of the most common in today’s internet centered computer use. It can also be one of the toughest to remove as many of these infections are designed to thwart removal and often require very special procedures to fully remove. Be sure that you have a good Anti-spyware program, or an anti-virus that also detects and removes spyware as well.
Firewall
A firewall is a program or device that protects and secures an internal network or PC from outside access. Firewalls come in two varieties. The first and recommended type is a hardware firewall. Common home routers when used with high-speed internet connections are one of the best firewalls available. One hardware firewall can protect all the computers on your home network and require virtually no setup or maintenance. The second type is a software firewall. Windows XP and Vista both come with a firewall as part of the operating system. More advanced firewalls can be purchased and often come bundled in “Internet Security” program bundles. If you have more then 1 PC connected to your high speed internet you will most likely have a router already, so a software firewall is not needed. If you are using dial-up internet or only have 1 PC connected directly to your high-speed internet, be sure that you have a software firewall.
Microsoft Update
Complex operating systems, such as Microsoft Windows, are never 100% perfect or secure from threats when they are released. To help fix these problems as they are found, updates are available through the internet. These updates can be done manually through the Microsoft website, http://windowsupdate.microsoft.com/, or they can be automatically setup to download and install on your computer on a regular schedule. Doing these updates a highly recommended to help solve problems before they are seen and to stop new threats to your PC.
System Backup
Today’s computers can store a very large amount of data. This data can include everything from photos, documents, financial information, music, movies and more. While some of this data can be easily downloaded or recreated, often much of it is unique. The hard drive in the computer is where this data is stored and it has an average life span. While many of these hard drives have been known to work for a decade or more, many also fail after only a short amount of time. When this failure occurs, the data may be lost forever or cost a large amount for professional data recovery. To safeguard your information, a backup is required. The three recommended types of backup include CD/DVD’s, external hard drives, and online (internet) backup services. The easiest and most popular of backups today is the external drive. It can hold large amounts of data, can backup at a very rapid rate, and is easy to use. CD/DVD’s discs can be used to backup your data as well, but most home computers have more data stored on them than a single CD or DVD disc can hold, so multiple discs will be needed when doing a backup so it is less convenient. CD/DVD disc can be stored for long periods and are excellent if you wish to archive data. The last method is online backups. These are online services that you pay a monthly fee to. Your data is uploaded to servers located on the internet. These types of services use methods to protect your data from prying eyes and in the event of a catastrophic event (flood/fire), your data is stored someplace away from your computer.
Wireless Networking
Many homes and business have switched over some or all of their networking needs to wireless networks, often called Wi-Fi. These networks are easy to use, can be expanded with little effort as new computers are added, and can often cost the same or less than wired networks as cables do not need to be run. Wireless networks have a certain range, and anyone within that range is capable of receiving that signal. Because of this, always be sure that your Wi-Fi network uses some sort or security so that a password or code is required to gain access to it. Even if you do not have data on your network that is private, you can legally be held responsible for any activities that occur through your internet connection.
If you have questions or concerns about any of these topics, please be sure to ask CompuTime about them.
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