Helpful information
Easy Steps to Protect your PC and Data
Six
Steps to Protect Your PC
The Internet is a phenomenal tool for
people to communicate, learn, and shop.
Unfortunately, the Internet can also be
used to commit criminal activities.
Although, there is no fool-proof method
to prevent online crime, our recommended
solutions and Internet safety tips can
help secure and protect your privacy and
your computer data.
Step One: Use Antivirus Software
Viruses can get into your computer
at home or at work and cause
extensive damage to your computer.
Viruses can even help a criminal
steal your identity and put your
personal information to use for
illegal purposes.
We recommend installing an
antivirus program, keeping it
up-to-date and scanning your system
on a regular basis. To search for a
wide range of online threats now,
try using
Antivirus Solutions
Step Two: Install a Firewall
In addition to your antivirus
software, you can use a firewall to
guard your computer against hackers
and unwanted inbound and outbound
Internet traffic. One of the easiest
ways a virus can enter your system
is through a broadband connection.
With a broadband connection, your
computer is open to the Internet
whenever it is turned on. We
recommend installing a firewall to
safeguard your financial documents,
personal information, photos and
online communications.
Firewall Solutions
Step Three: Update Your Operating
System
Your Microsoft®
Windows®
operating system can also protect
you from viruses, hackers and other
online threats. You can receive
automatic updates from Microsoft to
protect your computer and keep your
operating system current at the same
time.
To update your Microsoft
operating system and other
applications, visit the
Microsoft Windows Update site.
The program will locate security
gaps and automatically download and
install the necessary patches for
you.
In addition, we recommend that
you activate Microsoft Windows
Automatic Update for the latest
security patches to avoid potential
threats in the future.
Step Four: Install and Use
Antispyware Software
Spyware programs can get into your
system from a free web download, by
visiting a Web site or clicking on
an online advertisement. The spyware
program then secretly gathers
information about your computing
habits and sends the information to
the company that created the
program. Once the company has your
information, the spyware can affect
your computer by:
- Changing your homepage to a
particular Web site
- Producing unwanted pop-up
ads—even when your browser is
not running
- Causing your browser or
system applications to close or
crash
- Stopping your ability to
connect to the Internet
- Slowing down your computer
at start-up or reducing the
performance of your system
If you are experiencing one or
more of these symptoms, your system
may be infected with spyware.
The best way to remove spyware is
to purchase and install an
antispyware program. We recommend
purchasing an updated product with
built-in antispyware capabilities.
You may also want to adjust your
browser security settings to medium
or higher and only download software
from trusted sources.
Antispyware Solutions
Step Five: Practice Internet
Safety
The Internet has made it easy for us
to perform activities online such as
shopping, banking and communicating
with others. At the same time,
transmitting information online can
also put us at risk for identity
theft and fraud. To ensure that the
information you provide is not used
maliciously, it is important to take
some basic precautions.
We recommend that you invest time
to learn what you can do to protect
you, your family and your data from
cyber threats. We have listed
suggested topics from Microsoft's
Web site to help you enjoy online
activities while still practicing
internet safety:
Security at Home—Protect Your
Personal Information—Watch a
video and read about protecting your
personal information to avoid
identity theft and other kinds of
fraud while surfing the Internet.
Help Protect Yourself While Enjoying
Online Activities—Learn how to
protect yourself while still
enjoying everything the Internet has
to offer.
E-Mail and Spam—How to Reduce the
Risks of Threats—Watch a video
and learn how to reduce the risks of
e-mail threats including spam,
viruses, identity-theft schemes and
hoaxes.
Protect Your Children's Privacy and
Safety—Safety tips, articles and
a video to help keep your children
protected while they surf the
Internet.
Step Six: Backup Your Important
Files
Have you ever wondered what you
would do if a virus deleted files on
your system? What if your hard drive
failed or a power surge during a
lightning storm destroyed your hard
drive? If you start thinking about
what you would do after a problem
occurs, it's probably too late. Your
Internet favorites and bookmarks
will be gone, e-mail addresses,
family history and pictures, your
thesis and your final report? All
lost.
Is there anything more important
on your system than the information
you invested time in creating? So,
why risk losing it?
We recommend you add additional
storage media and a software backup
application to your system. Then you
can automatically backup and save
your data as part of your regular
computer maintenance routine. Taking
this preventative measure can reduce
your stress level when your
important information is suddenly
gone. We can assist you to select
the best options to fit your time,
budget and experience level.
