Newbies Guide To Securing Your Computer System
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Protect Yourself
T
oday, more and more people are using their computers for everything from communication to online banking and investing to shopping. As we do these things on a more regular basis, we open ourselves up to potential hackers, attackers and crackers. While some may be looking to phish your personal information and identity for resale, others simply just want to use your computer as a platform from which to attack other unknowing targets.
Below are a few easy, cost-effective steps you can take to make your computer more secure.

Make backup files

Always make backups of important information and store in a safe place separate from your computer. Consider making a boot disk on a Data CD or a floppy disk in case your computer is damaged or compromised by a malicious program. Obviously, you need to take this step before you experience a hostile breach of your system.
Protect your Email

Review your browser and email settings for optimum security.
Why should you do this? Active-X and JavaScript are often used by hackers to plant malicious programs into your computers. While cookies are relatively harmless in terms of security concerns, they do still track your movements on the Internet to build a profile of you. At a minimum set your security setting for the "internet zone" to High, and your "trusted sites zone" to Medium Low.
Do not open unknown email attachments.
It is simply not enough that you may recognize the address from which it originates because many viruses can spread from a familiar address.
Make Sure That Your E-mail Is Safe
Microsoft

Update and patch your operating system, web browser and software frequently. If you have a Windows operating system, start by going to www.windowsupdate.microsoft.com and running the update wizard. This program will help you find the latest patches for your Windows computer. Also go to www.officeupdate.microsoft.com to locate possible patches for your Office programs.
Unknown programes, be aware.

Do not run programs from unknown origins.
Also, do not send these types of programs to friends and coworkers because they contain funny or amusing stories or jokes. They may contain a Trojan horse waiting to infect your computer.
Disable hidden filename extensions.
By default, the Windows operating system is set to "hide file extensions for known file types". Disable this option so that file extensions display in Windows. Some file extensions will, by default, continue to remain hidden, but you are more likely to see any unusual file extensions that do not belong.
Read About Trojan Horses And Other Malicious Creatures
Firewall, burn the evil virus.

Without a good firewall, viruses, worms, Trojans, malware and adware can all easily access your computer from the Internet. Consideration should be given to the benefits and differences between hardware and software based firewall programs. Install antivirus software and set for automatic updates so that you receive the most current versions.
Virus Scan Software
The Latest Internet Security Software
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Disconnect your computer

Turn off your computer and disconnect from the network when not using the computer. A hacker can not attack your computer when you are disconnected from the network or the computer is off.
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How do you protect yourself?
please feel free to add your link or/and share ideas!
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Tipi
Dec 25, 2010 @ 9:31 pm | delete
- Excellent information and very well done!
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alteredkat
Oct 21, 2009 @ 8:11 am | delete
- Very useful information! Great lens! *****
I'm not really a computer Newbie...but I am a computer dummy! :o)
Which is why it's great that I married a computer techi! LOL
He protects my puter with anti-virus this and firewall that...etc...
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susannaduffy
Apr 26, 2009 @ 12:09 am | delete
- Offsite backup is the way to go indeed
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Pastiche
Mar 26, 2009 @ 9:50 am | delete
- This is excellent advice-one addition to the boot rescue disk module: some computers (most new ones today) don't come with a floppy drive. You can make a boot CD to accomplish the same task, and it's a very good idea to do so. Another tip: check out BitDefender and make a bootable cleanup CD that can bypass the Windows OS to ensure hidden nasties get found and destroyed. 5*
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Joan4
Mar 26, 2009 @ 8:45 am | delete
- This is great information. Thankfully, I am doing most of these things, but I did not know how to set my security settings for maximum protection. Thank you for a really super informational lens!
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