Steps to Protecting Your Home Computer

With more and more people logging on to the internet there is more and more personal information floating around in cyberspace. The vultures of the web are just waiting for a chance to dive into your computer and have their way with it. There are a few step you can take to ensure the security of your home computer.

The first step you can take toward securing your home computer system is with the installation of an anti-virus program. There are many to choose from out there so you should have no problem finding one that is right for you.

Another way to keep your computer safe is to keep your operating system up to date by installing all of the updates as they become available.

Take precautions when opening email, especially messages containing attachments. It is best to only open solicited mail from people you know.

It is best to have a current firewall program running to help keep unwanted users gaining access to your personal home computer.

Remember to make backup copies of all of your important files. Make it a habit to use your system backup often.

Always use passwords that are difficult to guess. Stay away from birthdates and popular names. A combination of upper case and lower case letters mixed among a few numbers make a password hard to crack.

Remember to practice caution at all times when downloading files from the internet and follow these simple steps and your computer should be protected.

Protecting Your Privacy Online

Each time you visit a web site that site can collect an abundance of your information from a single visit. The site can tell what computer you are using, the software on your computer, as well as which sites you visit on the web. Web sites use your personal information to detect your habits for browsing. Be sure to read the privacy policy on each site you visit. If you come across a site that does not have a privacy policy posted, write to the web site administrator and ask that one be put up on the site.

Some people think that it is okay to use their email at the office for the same purpose as they would use a personal account. This belief is far from the truth. Most employers have spyware installed on company machines to keep an eye on their employees. Your level of privacy on a work computer is less than zero.

Teach your children that “don’t talk to strangers” extends onto the internet in addition to everyday life. Tell them to never give personal information about themselves or their family to anyone.

Remember to always clear you history and get rid of all the cookies in your temporary folder and you are off to a good start at protecting your privacy.