10 tips to make your systems less susceptible to attack.
10 tips to make your systems less susceptible to attack.
By Burton Kelso
More than ever, companies are relying on the Internet to conduct business. However, the Internet is not a safe environment. There are worms constantly scanning for computers to infect, malicious trojans disguised as helpful programs, spyware that monitors and reports your activities and hijackers that take control of your computer. Those who have been victims know that getting their computers back in working condition is a frustrating experience. So, the best defense is a good offense. Here are a number of things you can do to safeguard your company’s computers.
1. Educate yourself and be smart about where you visit and what you click on. Understanding how you can get infected and what to avoid when using the Internet is the most important step in keeping your computer clean and secure. Most people with infected machines were infected because they clicked on things they shouldn’t have.
2. Back up your files regularly and keep a copy off-site. For maximum protection, consider using a combination of backup solutions. Burn critical documents to disk on a regular basis or back them up to a flash drive. Use software so that backs up are done automatically. Get a Web hosting account with lots of storage and upload critical files to the Web server.
3. Protect your network and servers. Network security is a daily job. Stay on top of changes that could affect the security of your local area network. Stay updated with the latest security patches and bug fixes. Assign access to directories and other network resources on a need-to-have basis and remove a user's account immediately when an employee leaves your company. Use network logging of activity and security tests to check your network for security holes and possible break-ins.
4. Use anti-virus software and keep it up to date. Running an antivirus program allows scanning of files and e-mails will be scanned as you use them, download them or open them. Remember, if you fail to update the software, it will not protect against new viruses, Trojans and worms. that have been released since you installed the program. Most virus software offers an auto-update feature that will get the updates for you. Make sure this feature is enabled in your software.
5. Use a firewall. Without a firewall, your computer is susceptible to being hacked and taken over. Many times hackers discover new security holes in software or an operating system long before the software company. These hackers are able to exploit the hole before a security patch is released. A firewall will block any attempt to exploit these holes. Windows XP Service Pack 2 ships with a firewall, so make sure it is always enabled.
6. Protect against adware/spyware. Just as you use an antivirus program, it is essential to use an adware/spyware protection and removal program. Ad-aware, Spybot - Search and Destroy and Microsoft Anti-Spyware are good tools. Adware/spyware removal programs do not find every infection, so it's important to run all three. These programs will scan your computer for adware/spyware, dialers, browser hijackers and other harmful programs. Use them once a week and remember to update them.
7. Visit the Microsoft Windows update site. This site scans your computer for any patches or updates that are missing from your computer. The best way to do this is to turn on automatic updates.
8. Visit the Apple security updates site frequently. If you are an Apple user, check the Apple security site and download any available updates.
9. Pay attention to passwords. One bad password can compromise your entire network. Avoid passwords that contain dictionary words or personal information. Also, require users to change their passwords regularly.
10. Switch to another browser, such as Firefox, or make your Internet Explorer more secure. Internet Explorer is shipped with an insecure default setting. That said, you have two choices: either make Internet Explorer more secure, or switch to another browser such as Mozilla Firefox. It's an excellent browser and is secure immediately after installation.
New risks are released nearly every day, but following these tips will decrease your susceptibility to attacks. These tips will go a long way to providing you with a secure computer environment.
Burton Kelso is the is owner of Integral Computer Consultants, a Kansas City-based computer consulting company that supports the success of small businesses by empowering them to reach their full technology potential. He can be reached at (816) 942-0672 or by e-mail at
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