What You Should Look for in Computer Security
Software
Ideally, you should try to get your hands on a full security package,
as opposed to just an anti-virus program, an e-mail spam filter, and so on and so on that are all separate
programs. There are quite a few of these full security package programs available. McAfee Security Center comes
highly recommended, as it is a full package covering anti-virus, spam filtering, pop-up blocking, spyware, adware
and malware filtering, worm and trojan filtering, and so on.
However, a full package like McAfee does cost somewhere in the area of forty to sixty
dollars, depending on the retailer. A full package like this is the only security you'll ever need for your
computer, but, that said, if you're strapped for cash, then you're strapped for cash, and you need to make sure
you're protected right now, not "when you get around to doing something about it."
If your computer is unprotected, then stop reading this right here and go download a
free virus protection program NOW.
The free virus protection programs are not the best protection you can get, but they
will work as a temporary band-aid until you can find some full security software that you can be happy
with.
Whatever you settle on, the number one, first and foremost, most important aspect of
the software is that it absolutely has to be up to date. You can't simply unpack the anti-virus software that came
with your PC three years ago and install it. Rather, you need to make sure that whatever software you're using
receives regular updates.
The best in this category will update about once a day. Some actually update more
than once every day.
The fact is that hundreds of new viruses enter the world every day. If your
anti-virus software can't keep up with these new viruses, then it's not really worth
it.
Public Computer
Security
These wireless Internet hotspots are certainly a
welcome new development. There’s really nothing like getting some work done while enjoying a cup of coffee at
your favorite café.
Simply put, wireless Internet has made life easier.
Using a Wi-Fi enabled modem, for one, cuts down on all of those obnoxious wires you have to drag around your
house and allows you to sit down with your laptop on the couch in perfect comfort and to do whatever you
like.
Being able to look up directions on MapQuest or
Google Earth while in the passenger seat of the car is a great bonus too and has certainly helped more than a
few lost husbands get out of stopping to ask for directions.
However, as great as these connections are for us,
they’re also great for hackers.
The fact is that most Wi-Fi hotspots these days are
using unprotected connections. In fact, a recent study conducted by a computer security group found that
airports in particular are a popular place for hackers to do their business. They have thousands of people
moving in and out all day, many of them using laptops, iPhones, and Blackberries, to be sure, so all a hacker
has to do is to sit there with his/her own laptop hacking right into people’s personal
files.
So far, airports have done very little to counter
this. Simply put, it’s not very high up on their list of priorities.
If you’re wondering how hard this is for a hacker
to accomplish… it’s not hard at all. The actual programming knowledge required to hack through somebody’s
security setup on an open Wi-Fi connection is the sort of thing that you can learn in a few hours at the
local community college.
What you need to do when using free Wi-Fi is to
simply not rely on the Wi-Fi provider to give you any degree of security with your connection. Take this into
your own hands and provide your own Wi-Fi security.
All you really have to do is, whenever possible,
use WPA encryption on your Wi-Fi firewall. Just find the security settings, and you should see the option
there.
It’s really not that complicated, though with a
public Wi-Fi access point, it may not always be an option.
When this is not an option, just use your own
judgment. For someone to hack your Wi-Fi connection in a hotspot, they would have to be within that hotspot.
In a crowded area, we’d advise against it.
Before closing this subject, we should take a
moment to remind you that some crooks still do it the old-fashioned way.
And by this, we mean that… say your security system
is top-notch, regularly updated, and your Wi-Fi security encryption is set to WPA, now… how is that going to
protect your identity when some looky-loo takes a peek over your shoulder and gets a glance at your Social
Security Number?
All of this computer security software does a great
job at protecting from hackers, but in the end, it’s just software. It’s not going to scare peeping Toms and
laptop thieves away, nor can you use the software to track your laptop on a GPS
unit.
Consider not only cyber security for your laptop,
but practical security.
We can boil this down to a few basic
tips:
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