10 Easy Ways To Keep Your Computers Safe

Internet safety is difficult yet absolutely critical.  Imagine having your computer hacked into, your personal information stolen or becoming a victim of identify theft.  By following these 10 easy steps, you can keep your computer protected and free from hacker malice:

1. Make certain that you have a good anti-virus program installed; it must include anti-spyware, too.
2. Be sure all of your security programs have real-time updates and scans to check for viruses on a continuous basis.
3. Check regularly to be sure your virus scan programs are up-to-date and the most recent versions.
4. Have a firewall installed and make sure it is properly configured.
5. Make sure your browsers have the latest security patches installed.
6. Avoid downloading applications from the Internet. Free games and applications often contain unwanted spyware and malware.
7. Be careful when you open e-mail attachments. Even if you know the person sending it to you, scan the e-mail before you open it.
8. Install a spam filter or delete spam e-mail as soon as it arrives in your inbox. Do not be tempted to open spam as such messages can often contain links that lead to phishing sites or viruses.
9. Beware of virus hoaxes. If you receive an e-mail that says certain files on your computer need to be deleted because they have been infected with a virus then search the web for sites that write about hoaxes to see if the message is genuine or not.

10.  Always choose secure passwords. Do not use names of relatives, birth dates or anything else that can be easily guessed. Use a combination of letter, numbers and symbols to strengthen passwords.  (Check out an earlier blog post I wrote for more tips on creating passwords:  ).

By following these tips, you keep your computer safe and protect your data and yourself.    If you are feeling overwhelmed and aren’t sure where to start or need assistance in implementing any of these tips, contact me at Amanda@gaeltek.com.

You can also get more free tips, tools and information about our services, including computer support for Virginia, Washington, DC, and Maryland, at:  www.gaeltek.com.