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Home > Resources > Computer Help > Secure Computing> How to Protect Your Personal Computer |
How to Protect Your Personal Computer There are four basic steps that you should take to help keep your personal computer free of viruses and spyware:
Step 1: Keep your Windows operating system up-to-date with the latest security patches.Keeping your Windows operating system up-to-date with the latest security patches is one of the most important things that you can do to help keep your computer and the rest of the computers on the residence hall network secure. Whenever a new vulnerability (a.k.a. security hole) is discovered in the Windows operating system, Microsoft will issue a security patch (i.e., fix) for it. These security patches prevent worms, such as Sasser and Blaster, and hackers from accessing your system, and they also prevent some spyware from installing on your computer. You should scan your computer for Windows updates periodically (i.e., at least once a month) or whenever you hear of a new Windows vulnerability. (For more information, see Scan Your Computer for Windows Updates.) To ensure that your computer is always up-to-date with the latest security patches, we recommend that you turn on Automatic Updates so that all critical Windows updates will automatically be downloaded and installed on your computer. (For more information, see Turn On Automatic Updates.) Step 2: Use up-to-date virus protection and scan your computer regularly for viruses.The residence hall network has virus protection, which filters Web browsing and POP e-mail through Outlook Express. If a virus gets inside the network and starts spreading from computer to computer, then this virus protection will not keep your computer safe. Because of this, you should have and use up-to-date virus protection on your computer. Up-to-date virus protection means that you are using the latest definition files for your anti-virus software. (A virus definition file is a database of known viruses that the anti-virus software uses when it examines your computer. As new viruses are discovered, virus definition files are updated by the software providers, and this happens frequently. Therefore, it is EXTREMELY important to keep your anti-virus software updated. If you don't, then your computer will be vulnerable to new viruses!) You should scan your computer for viruses at least once a week or whenever you hear of a new virus. To ensure that your computer is scanned on a regular basis, set your anti-virus software to perform automatic weekly scans. IMPORTANT! To help ensure that all viruses are truly detected and removed from your computer, follow the steps listed under Perform a Full Virus or Spyware Scan. If you do not have virus protection on your computer, then see Recommended Anti-Virus, Anti-Spyware, and Firewall Software for a list of free and for-purchase anti-virus programs that we recommend. Step 3: Use up-to-date spyware protection and scan your computer regularly for spyware.Spyware programs are usually unknowingly installed on your computer when you download free programs from the Internet. They can also install automatically if you don't have your Windows operating system up-to-date with the latest security patches. Spyware programs can make your system unstable and cause other problems. For example, spyware can:
Because of this, you should scan your computer for spyware at least once a week using up-to-date definition files. IMPORTANT! To make sure that all spyware is truly detected and removed from your computer, follow the instructions listed under Perform a Full Virus or Spyware Scan. If you do not have anti-spyware software on your computer, then see Recommended Anti-Virus, Anti-Spyware, and Firewall Software for a list of free anti-spyware programs that we recommend. Step 4: Use firewall protection.Any time that you're connected to the Internet, your personal computer is at risk for being infected or hacked via unprotected ports. (A port is connection point through which data travels back and forth between your computer and the Internet. For example, HTTP traffic uses port 80, FTP traffic uses port 21, and e-mail uses port 25.) A firewall is software or hardware (or a combination of both) that protects or shields ports on your computer. It also hides your computer's IP address, so that hackers don't even know that you're connected to the Internet. (An IP address is a unique number that identifies your computer on a network or on the Internet.) Firewalls work by filtering incoming and outgoing traffic to and from your computer based on rules, which you can configure to suit your personal needs. If the firewall determines that the traffic is acceptable, then it lets the traffic pass through. Otherwise, the firewall blocks it. Note: Firewalls usually prompt you to accept or deny incoming traffic. If you always accept requests without knowing what they are, then you render your firewall useless. If you are unsure of what something is, then you should research it before accepting it. (Conduct a Google search on the program to find out what it is.) The residence hall network has a firewall that prevents outside attacks, but it does not help unprotected computers if there is a virus outbreak inside the firewall. Because of this, it is very important that you use some type of firewall protection on your personal computer. If you have Windows XP with Service Pack 2 or Vista, then you can use the built-in firewall, which is turned on by default. If you have Windows XP with Service Pack 1, then you'll need to turn on the built-in firewall. (For more information, see Turn On the Windows Built-In Firewall.) If you don't have Windows XP or Vista, then see Recommended Anti-Virus, Anti-Spyware, and Firewall Software for a list of free and for-purchase firewall programs that we recommend. |
