Article by Computer Banc Volunteers Alex Dodwell and Matt Hagaman
Updated 2010.08.10.
Every year the government and large businesses spend billions of
dollars on security software and recovering from security threats.
Mid-size and large businesses require and utilize software that ensures
safety and security for their network. The story for our homes or small
independent businesses may be very different. Any computer connected to
the Internet that is not properly protected will have its functionality
impaired or destroyed by spyware and viruses. Fortunately, there are a
number of effective, free software solutions available to the average
homeowner. Properly utilizing these free applications and suggestions
will improve the safety of your Internet browsing experience.
Firewall
Every computer connected to the Internet must have a firewall. A firewall is a device that controls the flow of information to and from your computer. Zone Alarm is
an excellent firewall that will allow you customize the access
privileges of other programs and computers that interact with your
system. It can be downloaded for free from www.zonealarm.com
.
Antivirus
Would you let a doctor operate on you without washing his or her hands?
Of course not. By the same token you should never access the Internet
without an antivirus program running - it’s essential for preventing an
infection. AVG is one of the best free antivirus programs
available. It offers real-time file protection, email protection for
Microsoft Outlook, and the ability to schedule automatic scans of your
system and updates to AVG’s virus definitions. It can be downloaded for free at: free.grisoft.com.
Antispyware
Spybot Search & Destroy, Malwarebytes' Anti-Malware, and Ad-aware
are three excellent programs that work to remove spyware from your
computer. “Spyware” (or similarly "malware") is a general term for any
of a number of small programs that can slow down your computer, create
unwanted pop-ups, and collect your personal information. Spybot Search
& Destroy also allows users to “Immunize” their system and
proactively block known sources of spyware. Spybot Search & Destroy
can be downloaded at:www.safer-networking.org, Malwarebytes' Anti-Malware can be downloaded at http://www.malwarebytes.org/mbam.php, and Ad-aware can be downloaded at www.lavasoftusa.com.
Safer Searching
McAfee SiteAdvisor
is a free add-on to your regular Internet browser that provides an
accurate safety rating for sites returned from an Internet search. By
using a series of user-friendly icons it notifies you if visiting a
particular site may result in unwanted spyware being downloaded to your
computer, excessive pop-up ads, or opportunities to download infected
files. McAfee Siteadvisor can be downloaded for free at: www.siteadvisor.com. There are alternative add-ons which provide the same function, many of which are included in today's anti-virus suites (including AVG!).
Kid Browsers
For parents with very young children who use the Internet, KidRocket
can be a very useful application that will allow them to safely spend
time on their favorite sites with less adult supervision. When browsing
with KidRocket, children are only allowed to visit a list of
pre-approved websites such as pbskids.org and cartoonnetwork.com.
KidRocket can be downloaded for free at: www.kidrocket.org.
Password Choices
Choosing secure passwords is essential for protecting your computer and personal information. If someone gains access to your email account, it is only matter of time before they will have access to all of your personal information and personal bank accounts. What is a secure password? The best passwords involve upper case letters, lower case letters, numbers, and punctuation. You should never make your password your birthday, spouse’s name, street address or any piece of similar information that would be easy for someone who knew you to guess. You should also never make your password a single English word. Hackers frequently utilize programs to take words found in a dictionary and try them one-at-a-time to gain access to your account. A password such as “kitty” or “squirrel” may be easy to remember, but it is not very secure. Examples of relatively secure passwords are: k1t7y_KAt86, L%k@that, or L1nc0ln300.
Although these suggestions will not protect you from all destructive Internet content, they should minimize computer infections and decrease the probability of your personal information being stolen. For more information on these topics, including a link on how to wipe your hard drive, check the Contributing / Donating page on this web site.