For many of us, our computer is one of our most important possessions. We use it for work. We store family photos on the computer. We have important financial information and other crucial facts stored on this piece of equipment. While no system is ever 100% secure (think Target), there are definitely ways to substantially lower your computer security risk.
Anti-virus software is important to install, but it's more important to actually use the software properly. Often we are annoyed when the software asks permission for certain programs to run or downloads to complete, but it is far more annoying to deal with the repercussions of malware. Don't ignore the software when it asks to complete an update either, as these will lower your risk because the updates improve overall security. When a new type of malware is discovered, anti-virus companies create updates to tackle the problem or to fix other security issues.
Anti-virus software detects trouble on your computer, and firewalls prevent an unauthorized system from accessing your computer network or your personal computer. Your router and modem need to have a firewall, and so does your computer. Even if your internet provider claims they have a firewall installed, it might be good to look at upgrading this to a better, more secure firewall.
Updates are important in general, and while it can be a big pain to shut down everything and complete an update, they need to be done. Updates for your operating system or browsers often are provided to fix bugs in the system, but they also are just as likely to be used to fix security issues. The more up-to-date your computer is, the safer the system is in general.
These are three good strategies for better security, but how you surf the net also affects your level of security. For instance, if an email from a contact comes in with an odd subject line or just says for you to click on a "fun" or "interesting" link, trash the email and don't click on the link. It's probably malware, and when you click on it not only will it end up on your computer, it will send out emails with the same dangerous link to all of your contacts. Don't download software off the internet unless you have done some research and are sure it is from a trustworthy source. Be password savvy, which means you need a different password for any company or financial institution that has your information. Keep your passwords complex with characters, capitals and numbers and don't store them on your computer.
What do you do if your computer already has fallen victim to a virus or spyware? Call in an expert to come and fix the problem. At GeeksAKnockin', for example, an expert computer tech can locate malware, remove the program and get your computer working properly again. They also can help you prevent such attacks in the future, no matter what type of operating system you are using. Some computer problems even can be solved remotely, but if not, a tech will come out to you, so you never have to haul your computer in for repairs. GeeksAKnockin' also offers many other services, including help with setting up networks, installing hardware and with backup and information recovery.
Anti-virus software is important to install, but it's more important to actually use the software properly. Often we are annoyed when the software asks permission for certain programs to run or downloads to complete, but it is far more annoying to deal with the repercussions of malware. Don't ignore the software when it asks to complete an update either, as these will lower your risk because the updates improve overall security. When a new type of malware is discovered, anti-virus companies create updates to tackle the problem or to fix other security issues.
Anti-virus software detects trouble on your computer, and firewalls prevent an unauthorized system from accessing your computer network or your personal computer. Your router and modem need to have a firewall, and so does your computer. Even if your internet provider claims they have a firewall installed, it might be good to look at upgrading this to a better, more secure firewall.
Updates are important in general, and while it can be a big pain to shut down everything and complete an update, they need to be done. Updates for your operating system or browsers often are provided to fix bugs in the system, but they also are just as likely to be used to fix security issues. The more up-to-date your computer is, the safer the system is in general.
These are three good strategies for better security, but how you surf the net also affects your level of security. For instance, if an email from a contact comes in with an odd subject line or just says for you to click on a "fun" or "interesting" link, trash the email and don't click on the link. It's probably malware, and when you click on it not only will it end up on your computer, it will send out emails with the same dangerous link to all of your contacts. Don't download software off the internet unless you have done some research and are sure it is from a trustworthy source. Be password savvy, which means you need a different password for any company or financial institution that has your information. Keep your passwords complex with characters, capitals and numbers and don't store them on your computer.
What do you do if your computer already has fallen victim to a virus or spyware? Call in an expert to come and fix the problem. At GeeksAKnockin', for example, an expert computer tech can locate malware, remove the program and get your computer working properly again. They also can help you prevent such attacks in the future, no matter what type of operating system you are using. Some computer problems even can be solved remotely, but if not, a tech will come out to you, so you never have to haul your computer in for repairs. GeeksAKnockin' also offers many other services, including help with setting up networks, installing hardware and with backup and information recovery.
About the Author:
Frankline Bell enjoys writing reviews on computer repairs and support companies. For additional details about the best computer repair Gresham Oregon professionals or to find out more about computer repair services Portland, please visit the GeeksAKnockin website today.