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Is a Deadbolt All You Need to Keep Your Computer Safe?

Is Your Computer Secure?

Is Your Computer Secure?

By Stacey Marriott

In 2006, a report released by Nielsen Media Research included an amazing statistic: 73.4 percent of homes in the United States have one computer. But wouldn’t a more interesting statistic be the number of households that paid $75 or more to get spyware or viruses off their computers?

What can you do to protect your home computer from attacks? Do you bring in professionals to configure and protect your home network, and fortify your computer against predators? Some of you might be able to answer "yes," but most of us cannot. But even without the help of a consultant, you can decrease your risk for attack. Here are some tips on what you can do and what you shouldn’t do to keep your computer safe:

1. Go for triple protection. Whether it’s an all-in-one solution or individual products, every computer should have anti-virus software, anti-spyware software, and a firewall. Make sure to follow a regular schedule for downloading updates for these tools, and schedule a regular anti-virus and anti-spyware scan.
2. Stay current. Install the latest updates for your operating system. You can use the software's built-in update tool or download updates directly from the company's site.
3. Protect yourself. Make sure all the accounts on your computer have passwords. Consider creating a second computer account with administrator rights then change your primary computer account to a standard user.
4. Watch your money. When making an online purchase or entering personal information onto a Web page, make sure you're using a secure site. The URL should begin with "https."
5. Pop-up beware! Do not click on pop-up windows, especially ones promising to rid your computer of spyware.
6. Be selective. Download files and software only from legitimate sites. If a Web page is "trashy" looking—outmoded graphics, bad navigation, and other hints that perhaps the e-commerce portion of the site is lacking—you may want to consider how secure the software is that you’re downloading from it.
7. I didn’t order that. Never open an attachment you aren't expecting, no matter how tempting.
8. Screen your calls. It's no different than locking out the junk trying to get in over your phone. If you receive an unwanted e-mail, delete it and/or set up a filter to delete ones like it in the future. Never click on any links or respond to them.
9. Don't go phishing. Never respond to an e-mail requesting personal information. Most companies you have a relationship with won't ask for personal information without you initiating a request for help.
10. Lock it down! Use an encryption tool to protect critical data such as bank, credit card and personal information.
11. Thumb it. Back up important data to a storage device (thumb drive, CD/DVD). Encrypt and password protect this data when possible. 

UB cannot suggest or support specific products for home use, but can recommend using reviews from the following Web sites:

Stacey Marriott is a technical writer for the offices of Human Resources and Technology Services.