How to Protect Your Computer

Understanding essential terms

Virus is software which can be transmitted to your computer via internet, network computer, emails, removable storage such as CDs, USB drives, etc. Virus’s can be imbedded into all type of files Images, Documents, Executables, etc. The main purpose of a virus is to corrupt your computer, destroy data, still your files and information.

Adware is software which displays pop up advertisements on your computer.

Spyware or Adware is a software that sends out your personal information, without your permission (Information can include Web sites you visit, what you type it can be sensitive information like your user name and password, etc).

Firewall is software designed to prevent unauthorized access to or from your private network. All messages entering or leaving the intranet pass through the firewall, to and from your computer. Firewall software examines each message and blocks those that do not meet the specified security criteria.

Recommended reading about computer security terms and threats include Malware, Worms, Trojans, Keylogger, Spyware, Adware, Foistware, Phishing, Network Sniffing, SSL, HTTPS, Secure Shopping, Spam, Firewall, SQL Injection, and Cross Site Scripting.

Tips for securing your computer

1.       Keep your Windows OS (Operating System)  up to date

2.       Install & configure Firewall on your computer to block unauthorized access

3.       Keep your virus scanner up to date

4.       Use Non Admin account for all your day to day work

5.       Login to Admin account every week and check for Windows & Antivirus updates

6.        Make sure your Firewall is ON

7.        Block your router for external access

8.        Create passwords for all your PC accounts

9.        Turn off your modem if internet is not required

10.    If your computer infected do not copy or email documents to other computers, clean up your computer from viruses first

11.   Create action plan for steps you’ll take in case you lose your computer if computer hardware failed, or a virus. Your key files and folders recovery plan.

12.    Learn how to secure your password. http://helptofind.com/content/view/23/42/

Clean up your temporary files and cookies from your computer

Internet Explorer click on Tools -> then Internet Options -> then Delete Files / Cookies & History

Download Free Software

Download and install FREE Microsoft Security Essential software

 http://www.microsoft.com/security_essentials/support.aspx

Comodo Firewall and Antivirus is now Comodo Internet Security

 http://personalfirewall.comodo.com/

Freeware SearchDestroy, find and remove adware, spyware, and viruses

Spybot Search & destroy http://searchdestroydownload.com/download.php

Additional Computer Security Software (some are free)

• Norton - http://www.symantec.com/norton/index.jsp
• Bazooka - http://www.kephyr.com/spywarescanner/
• Free Spyware Doctor Starter Edition part of Google Pack Software - http://pack.google.com/intl/en/pack_installer.html
  
• Avira Premium Security - http://www.avira.com/en/
• ThreatFire™ AntiVirus  - http://www.threatfire.com/
• Trend Micro - http://store.trendmicro.com/
• Avast - http://www.avast.com/
• Mcafee - http://us.mcafee.com/
• Webroot - http://www.webroot.com/En_US/consumer-products-antivirus.html?rc=4929&_kwcid=TC|9259|webroot%20antivirus||S|e|2613977180
• Kaspersky - http://usa.kaspersky.com/products_services/internet-security.php?c_id=sem_ggl_bd_us_kaspersky_internet 
• Spyware Doctor - http://www.pctools.com/spyware-doctor/
• Zonealarm - http://download.zonealarm.com/bin/promotions/suite/zaiss_buynow.html?cid=W200002

Download Free Internet Browsers.  

• Mozilla Firefox:  http://www.mozilla.com/en-US/firefox/upgrade.html
• Google Chrome:  http://www.google.com/chrome/?hl=en
• Opera:  http://www.opera.com/
• Apple Safari:  http://www.apple.com/safari/
• Maxthon: http://maxthon.com/

Use administrator accounts on your PC only for Operating System (OS) & Software upgrades

Don’t use your default (administrator) PC account for your daily activities and internet surfing, create additional user account on your PC with least privileges.

 Some viruses require access to registry and other system resources where only administrator accounts can access. To minimize this type of vulnerabilities, do not use your PC administrative account for surfing the web or day to day work. Create a non administrative account and use that account for your daily activity. Login to your administrative account only when you need to install windows updates, patches, and software.

How to create and use passwords for all accounts on your PC

1.    OS/ XP click Start - for non XP Operating Systems (OS) search your favorite search engine for help

2.    Control Panel

3.    User Accounts

4.    Create new account (with limited privileges)

Make sure your firewall is on, some antivirus software come with their own Firewall if not use Windows XP default firewall

1.    OS/ XP click Start

2.    Control Panel

3.    Windows Firewall (make sure it's ON)

Keep your PC up to date with security patches 

1.    OS/ XP click Start

2.    Help and support

3.    Get Windows Updates

4.    Express install

Additional resources and more advanced reading on the security subject

Microsoft: http://www.microsoft.com/security/malwareremove/default.mspx

CERT: www.cert.org

SC Magazine: www.scmagazineus.com

Computerworld: www.computerworld.com

IBM: http://www-935.ibm.com/services/us/iss/xforce/trendreports/

YAHOO Tech: http://tech.yahoo.com/blogs/null/132464

Microsoft: http://www.microsoft.com/protect/computer/viruses/worms/conficker.mspx

• Security Bulletin MS08-067
• Configuring WSUS:
  http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/wsus/default.aspx
• Ten Principles of Microsoft Patch Management:
  http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/cc512589.aspx 
• SVRD blog about MS08-067:
  http://blogs.technet.com/swi/archive/2008/10/23/More-detail-about-MS08-067.aspx
• Creating a Strong Password Policy:
  http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/cc736605.aspx
• Windows Vista Security Guide| Chapter 3: Protect Sensitive Data | Device Control: http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/bb629455.aspx#4 
• How to correct "disable Autorun registry key" enforcement in Windows: http://support.microsoft.com/kb/953252
• Encyclopedia write up:
  http://www.microsoft.com/security/portal/Entry.aspx?Name=Worm%3aWin32%2fConficker.B
• Virus alert about the Win32/Conficker.B worm:
  http://support.microsoft.com/kb/962007 
• Main article:
  http://support.microsoft.com/?kbid=890830 
• How to use the MSRT in enterprise environments:
  http://support.microsoft.com/kb/891716