PC Computer Protection in 10 Easy Steps

There is no denying that today's society is information-based. What controls the information?...computers of course. The number of computers in the world today is growing exponentially. It seems that the number of hackers and online thieves has also grown exponentially. We therefore need to secure our computers from these malcontents. Below are 10 easy to do, cost-efficient steps you can do to keep the hackers, crackers, attackers, and identity thieves away from YOUR computer.

1.
Make backups of all important information and store them in a safe place away from the computer. You can use a separate hard drive, a flash memory card, or even an off site web server. A search on Google or your favorite search engine will reveal good prices for the hardware you need and the vendors who will save your important data.

2.
If you have a Windows operating system, you need to go to www.windowsupdate.microsoft.com and run the update wizard. This will download the latest security patches for your Windows computer. If you have Office programs installed, you'll also need to go to www.officeupdate.microsoft.com and do the same thing. These tasks will ensure your operating system and Office programs are secure.

3.
Install a firewall. There are many good firewall products for you to choose. Zone Alarm is highly rated and is free. Search for the better rated products and pick one. A firewall will keep out viruses, worms, Trojans, malware and adware.

4.
We all know the harm that viruses can do, so install anti-virus software and set it for automatic updates. Viruses mutate and take different forms, so you need to receive the most current "cures".

5.
Your email program and browser can offer a great opportunity for a hacker to plant malicious programs into your computer. You should review the settings on your browser and email for optimum security. While cookies are relatively harmless in terms of security, they do track your movements. Experts suggest you set your security setting for the "Internet zone" to High, and your "trusted sites zone" to Medium Low.

6.
Email attachments are a great way for viruses to infect your computer. Do not open email attachments that are unknown.

7.
Programs from unknown origins also pose significant risk. Don't run them unless you know the origin. Programs are commonly used by hackers to send a Trojan horse to your computer.

8.
When you are not using the computer, turn it off and disconnect from the network. The good news is a hacker cannot attack your computer if it is disconnected from the network and off.

9.
Disable hidden filename extensions. By default, Windows is set to "hide file extensions for known file types". If you disable this option, you'll be able to see any unusual file extensions that do not belong. Be aware that some file extensions will continue to remain hidden, however.

10.
A boot disk or floppy disk, if you have a floppy drive, CD disk if you don't, which contains the needed start up programs for Windows will come in handy should your computer become damaged or compromised by a malicious program. DO this before you need it!

These ten easy to do tasks will keep you much safer from attacks than doing nothing. It's not a matter of if a hacker tries to attack my computer, it's when.