Safe and Secure Computing Eleven 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 your computer back in working condition is a frustrating experience. So, the best defense is a good offense. There 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. The majority of people who have infections on their machines were infected due to lack of knowledge and clicking on things that they should not.
2. Have a plan so if something happens to your computer, you’re still able to work. It makes sense for every company to have a business continuity plan in place. This might include installing an uninterruptible power supply in case of power outage, having additional computers available for use, or knowing who to call when your equipment fails and you need to get up and running. You can’t plan in detail for every event, but it’s better to have a basic plan than no plan at all.
3. Back up your files regularly and often and keep a copy off-site. For maximum protection, you should 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 backup software so that your backups are done automatically. Get a Web hosting account with lots of storage and upload critical files to the Web server.
4. 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. Keep your operating system 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 they leave your company. Use network logging of activity and security tests to check your network for security holes and possible break-ins.
5. Use anti-virus software and keep it up to date. By having an antivirus program running, 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, worms, etc. that have been released since you installed the program. Most virus software offers an auto-update feature, which will get the updates for you. Make sure this feature is enabled in your software.
6. 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. By using a firewall, the majority of these security holes will not be accessible because the firewall will block any attempt. Windows XP Service Pack 2 ships with a firewall, so make sure it is always enabled.
7. Protect against adware/spyware. Just as you installed and 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 for this. 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 before each use.
8. Visit the Microsoft Windows update site. This site will scan your computer for any patches or updates that are missing from your computer. It will ensure your computer has all of the latest security updates installed and is secure from any known security holes. The best way to do this is to turn on automatic updates.
9. Visit the Apple security updates site frequently. If you are an Apple user, check the Apple security site and download any available updates.
10. 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.
11. 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.
By following these tips, you minimize risk of future infections or hacking attempts. Unfortunately, the only fool-proof method of securing your computer is not to use it, which isn’t realistic. 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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