New Year's Resolutions for Your Computer Security

With the New Year upon us, many of us are making resolutions for changing our lives. Now is the time to think about resolving to change or improve your computer use habits, and keep your personal information safe and secure for the next year. Here are five tips for securing your digital data for the New Year.

Back up your data
There are several ways to back up the data on your hard drive. The methods range from a) creating multiple CDs using your operating system's backup tools; to b) copying the entire drive onto an external hard disk; to c) creating a DVD image of your hard drive; to d) using an online backup service; to e) ignoring it and taking the risk that a stray lightning bolt will wipe out your work.

Probably the easiest and least time-consuming method is to create a full copy of your hard drive on an external hard drive. The least expensive but most time-consuming would be backing up your drive to CDs or DVDs.

Online back up services can also be useful in securing your data in a different location - as long as you encrypt your data before uploading it. Be sure you feel safe with the vendor offering the service before entrusting them with your data, and that they have ironclad security surrounding your data. A variety of encryption tools for are available, but I use PGP, and WinZip comes with one that can be useful but not quite as powerful.

The last method not included in the list is to use flash drives (AKA thumb drives) to just backup your personal data. Encrypt the data, since these drives are easily lost, and if found, embarrassing personal information could wend its way to the internet and being shared by thousands or millions.

Update your anti-virus software
You should be using an anti-virus package that automatically updates the virus definition files, much like having a subscription to a magazine. Every day, every time your computer boots, one of the first things it should be doing is updating the files that let it identify and remove harmful software. If you don't have an anti-virus package, you are asking for trouble and need to invest in one that includes a firewall application, especially for those of you who have "always on" broadband service and you leave your computer running and unattended.

If you have an anti-virus package, make sure the settings are set so it automatically updates on a daily basis, and scans your system every day, and every time you turn on the computer. If you don't have an anti-virus program, get one and install it.

Install Anti-Spyware Tools
While a good anti-virus program with a firewall package will identify most viruses and swiftly update themselves to battle the ever-expanding array of viruses, some forms of malicious software are not easily identified by them. Spyware, bits of code embedded in web pages or seemingly-harmless games, come in a variety of forms that can steal your personal data, or permit a third-party to take control of your computer and use it for malicious purposes.

Update Your Operating System
Both of the big PC personal computer operating system vendors offer anti-spyware and security patches for your computer. Update your system's operating system with all of these forms of patches at least once a month.

Get a Shredder
Yes, a shredder, but one capable of shredding disks and CDs. Every time you back up your hard drive onto a CD, shred the old copy so it can't fall into the wrong hands. Also useful in shredding things like old credit cards and credit card statements.

A virtual shredder for your PC should also be installed, so that every time you wipe personal data from the computer, it is really gone. "Ghosts" of that data still exist after you hit the "delete" button, and these shredders will turn that data into so much virtual hash, making it nearly impossible for anyone to recover it. USE WITH CAUTION. Once gone, it is GONE!