Steps for PC Effectiveness
by: Michael A Silva
These ten steps will help you increase your computer's security. From
discovering viruses to learning how to avoid them, this article is a must read!
Windows password This is the easiest way to make sure you know who is using your
pc. Choose a lengthy password that contains capital and lower case letters.
Including a number or two will greatly increase your security. Having a Windows
password means that the only people that can log onto a Windows session are
people that you have granted access to.
Password manager You should never write your passwords down. Using the same
password all the time will also make it very easy for hackers to reach your
personal information. So if you can’t write it down and you’re not supposed to
use the same one – how are you supposed to keep track of all of your passwords?
The easiest way to do this is to use a password manager. We prefer to use
Roboform. Roboform is an easy to use password and profile manager that docks
neatly into your Internet Explorer toolbar and keeps track of all of your
passwords for you. Roboform also uses a master password system. You will have
one password that accesses all of the passwords in the program. This way you can
keep all of your information safe and secure. You can download Roboform for free
by http://www.roboform.com.
Spyware Remover Next to spam, spyware is the internet’s biggest annoyance. By
definition, spyware is “any software that covertly gathers user information
through the user's Internet connection without his or her knowledge, usually for
advertising purposes. Once installed, the spyware monitors user activity on the
Internet and transmits that information in the background to someone else.
Spyware can also gather information about e-mail addresses and even passwords
and credit card numbers.” The amount of spyware that exists on your pc is
dependent on the amount of internet surfing you do. A good rule of thumb here is
to scan for spyware once per week or whenever poor system performance surfaces.
If you don’t have a spyware scanner, we recommend http://www.webroot.com.
Antivirus This should go without saying, but if your computer is connected to
the internet you need antivirus software. With weekly scans and program updates
you should be protected from most threats. For added protection, we recommend
using more than one anvtivirus scanner.
Firewall A firewall will keep unwanted visitors out of your computer. You can
obtain a firewall either by using software application like ZoneAlarm or Black
Ice Defender, or by using a router with your internet connection. For more
information on routers plese visit http://www.Linksys.com.
File sharing Basically, file sharing programs are the single biggest security
risk you will come across. This is because the only facts you have about the
files you are downloading are the file name and the file size. It is quite
simple to change a filename to dupe someone into downloading a virus or other
malware like keystroke recorders. Our advice – stay away from file sharing at
all costs. If you need to use it, make sure you have updated antivirus software
installed and running.
Research In a sentence – know what’s out there. http://www.Symantec.com has a
section on their website that will serve you well. Knowing what types of viruses
exist and how to avoid them will make you a much smarter internet user.
Email protection Most of the antivirus applications available offer email
scanning. If yours does not, you will want to get one that does. Email scanning
will make sure all of your incoming and outgoing emails are safe for both you
and the recipient. Email viruses spread very quickly by using your address book
to propagate. Never read email from people you don’t know and always make sure
your email scanner is active.
Network security Another way that viruses spread is through computer networks.
We have a few quick tips to keep your network safe. Always scan any files that
come in from other computers. Even if it’s a file you have brought from home.
Never allow a file to be placed on your network until it has been scanned. The
main server should be the only computer with file sharing enabled. By not
allowing computer users to transmit files, you can quickly neutralize a threat.
Maintenance Performing weekly virus and spyware scans will go a long way to
keeping your computer safe. Defragmenting weekly will also greatly improve
performance. If you put in the effort, you will be rewarded with a safe and
smooth running pc. Not to mention less headaches!
By following these ten guide lines, you will greatly improve the performance of
your computer. You will also generate peace of mind as you gain a new sense of
security.
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About The Author
Michael Silva has been conducting business on the Internet for the past 9 years
and has extensive knowledge in the areas of marketing, promotion, training and
affiliate programs.
sources:articlecity.com