The question sounds silly, but with our increasing reliance on computers and the increased virus attacks that we’ve seen recently, it’s a question that holds a lot of validity.
Computers are prone to viruses, crashes, power surges, and user mistakes that can cause lost data. It might not be the end of the world for a home user, but for a business, it could spell catastrophe. I was on the internet the other day searching for ways to protect my computer and came across some great tips that I thought I’d share with you.
1) Use anti-virus software and keep it up to date. Yes, it costs money, but it’s a small investment that protects your largest investment - your business.
2) Don’t open emails or attachments from unknown sources. It sounds obvious, but this is the number 1 way viruses are spread. Be careful even when opening emails from people you trust – people frequently spread viruses unknowingly.
3) Use “firewalls” to protect your computer from unwanted intruders. Firewalls help filter out unwanted data, keeping it from your computer. They work - if you don’t have one, get one!
4) Regularly download security updates and patches for your operating system. Software companies create patches to eliminate software vulnerabilities as they are discovered. By continually downloading these patches you help close the gaps in your computer.
5) Use passwords that are hard to guess. Passwords are easy to figure out with software programs that will run billions of potential combinations. The only way to create a secure password is to vary upper and lowercase letter with numbers and symbols, make them at least eight characters long, and change them regularly.
6) Back up your computer data regularly. It is inevitable - you WILL lose computer data at some point (if you haven’t already!). Once this happens you will know why backing up your data regularly is so important. Prevent it from happening in the future by backing up your data to removable media on a regular basis.
7) Don’t share computer access with strangers. This sounds simpler than it is. Obviously you won’t let a stranger play on your computer, but what if you use a file sharing program? That opens the door for others to use your computer from a remote location. Don’t let that happen - keep your computer to yourself!
8) Disconnect from the internet when not in use. The internet is used to send and receive information, which means that when you’re hooked up to the ‘net, you’ve opened a two-way portal. The surest way to keep people out is to disconnect. It’s that simple.
9) Check your security on a regular basis. Your security settings can become outdated over time, so check them regularly. A good rule of thumb is to review your computer security every time you change the clocks for daylight savings.
10) Make sure others who use your computer know what to do if your computer becomes infected with a virus. If other people are using your computer, make sure they know how to update virus protection software and download security patches. This way, if you aren’t around, you won’t have to worry about your computer’s security being compromised!
While you can’t protect your computer from everything, there are preemptive measures that you can take to greatly reduce your risk.