Computer users have to deal with all sorts of security threats each day, computer viruses, computer worms, hackers, phishing, spyware. These malicious attacks may damage your boot sector, system BIOS, software and data files, cause disruption of internet traffic, create back door to allow unauthorized access to your computer, and steal confidential information from you. So how do they spread over the internet? Here are 10 tips to protect your computer:

1. Install an antivirus + antispyware program or all-in-one internet security program. Do not run any free scan and free download unless you have done your research on the software developer. Some free downloads can be spyware programs or malware that create security hole in your system.

2. Install security programs that provide active real time protection. Some free antivirus programs can only detect viruses that have already infected your PC. However, if your computer is already infected, you may not be able to reach the free virus scan sites at all.

3. Keep your internet security programs up to date. New viruses, spyware, worms are coming out every day, you need the most updated definition database to block these threats.

4. Install a firewall program and configure your firewall program to block any unsolicited inbound or outbound communication. This can protect you from hacker attack.

5. Download security patches for your application programs and browser programs. Some programs are vulnerable to malicious attack and the patches can fix these vulnerabilities.

6. Be vigilant and selective about what you download to your computer. Do not download free games, freeware, free music files etc unless you are certain that they are harmless.

7. Be careful with email attachment. Do not open unexpected email attachment even if it comes from people in your address book. An internet security program can protect your computer by scanning the attachment before you open it or save it to your computer.

8. Delete spam messages or install a spam filter. Some spam messages are merely a nuisance but some contain links which land on bogus sites where your personal information can be stolen (phishing). Computer viruses and spyware can also be spread using spam messages. Do not click on the link or open any attachment of spam messages

9. Watch out for hoaxes. If you receive an email message warning you about a computer virus, search the internet to see if it is a hoax. Don’t delete any file or spread the message to other people unless you know that the warning is true.

10. Change your password frequently and do not use the same password for all sites. Use complex words with characters and numbers.

Tags: Computer Security, Malware Attack, PC

This entry was posted on April 28, 2009 at 10:14 pm and is filed under Computer. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can skip to the end and leave a response. Pinging is currently not allowed.