Keeping Your PC Secure

Keeping your PC secure

Today, our PCs seem to be constantly under attack from a barrage of viruses, worms and scams via email and the Internet, with the trend likely to continue for the foreseeable future.

However, if you are aware of the dangers, you can take steps to secure your PC from these threats.

1. Be aware of the latest viruses

At Supanet, we aim to keep you informed of the latest viruses as soon as they break in the virus update section of the computing channel.

2. Seriously consider purchasing anti-virus software and a firewall for your PC It may cost a lot more than the cost of the software to recover your PC in the long term.

Supanet offers excellent anti-virus and firewall protection, along with parental controls for just 2.49 per month.

What's more, you can try it out for free for 30 days. To find out more click here.

3. Keep your operating system up-to-date via the Windows Update website

Viruses can exploit security holes, so it is in your interest to keep these holes patched up. Download the latest security patches from Microsoft.

You can also schedule Windows to download new updates automatically:

Click Start>Settings>Control Panel.

Click the icon called 'Automatic Updates', then put a tick in the top box to have updates offered to you automatically. Then click 'OK'.

4. Do not open unexpected attachments

Recent viruses have "spoofed" email addresses from infected machines, so the email that looks like it is from a friend might not be.

5. Keep your software updated

New viruses appear weekly, so make sure your software can deal with them. Anti-virus software usually updates automatically, but it is worth checking for updates manually too.

In addition, make sure you update your anti-virus software BEFORE downloading email, especially if you havent used your PC for a period of time.

6. About firewalls

A firewall protects your home PC from attack from the internet. It examines data to determine whether to forward it to its destination or reject it.

Windows XP has a built-in firewall. This can be activated by turning the Internet Connection Firewall on from the Advanced setting in your Supanet dialup connection:

Click Start>Programs>Accessories>Communications>Network Connections.

In the Network Connections Window, right click on your supanet connection.

3. From the drop-down menu, select 'Properties' then select the 'Advanced' Tab.

4. Tick the Box located under 'Internet Connections Firewall' and select 'OK' to close the Properties Window.

7. Diallers

You may have seen reports in the press where people have received huge phone bills for calls to premium-rate numbers that claim they never made.

These are often a result of malicious programs called diallers, which enter a PCs and change dial-up settings, without the users permission.

For more on diallers and information on how to avoid them, click here.

8. Phishing emails

A growing number of emails are now being sent out, claiming to be from banks, eBay or other leading online institutions. The emails are fake and designed to get your details from you fraudulently.

Dont get caught out, to find out more click here.