Use anti-virus software, a firewall, and anti-spyware
software to help keep your computer safe and secure.
Dealing with anti-virus and firewall protection may sound
about as exciting as flossing your teeth, but it's just as
important as a preventive measure. Having intense dental
treatment is never fun; neither is dealing with the effects
of a preventable computer virus.
Anti-virus Software
Anti-virus software protects your computer from viruses that
can destroy your data, slow your computer's performance,
cause a crash, or even allow spammers to send email through
your account. It works by scanning your computer and your
incoming email for viruses, and then deleting them.
To be effective, your anti-virus software should update
routinely with antidotes to the latest "bugs" circulating
through the Internet. Most commercial anti-virus software
includes a feature to download updates automatically when
you are on the Internet.
Anti-Virus Software- What to Look For and Where to Get It
You can download anti-virus software from the websites of
software companies or buy it in retail stores. Look for
anti-virus software that:
 Recognizes
current viruses, as well as older ones
Effectively
reverses the damage
Updates
automatically.
Here's a sample list of anti-virus software that you can
purchase online.
http://security.getnetwise.org/tools/results/any2.php
This list was gathered and provided by the GetNetWise
website. We cannot guarantee the effectiveness of any of the
products listed on the GetNetWise website, nor do we endorse
any products. The National Cyber Security Alliance is also
unable to provide any technical assistance with any of these
tools.
Firewalls
Don't be put off by the word "firewall." It's not necessary
to fully understand how it works; it's enough to know what
it does and why you need it. Firewalls help keep hackers
from using your computer to send out your personal
information without your permission. While anti-virus
software scans incoming email and files, a firewall is like
a guard, watching for outside attempts to access your system
and blocking communications from and to sources you don't
permit.
Some operating systems and hardware devices come with a
built-in firewall that may be shipped in the "off" mode.
Make sure you turn it on. For your firewall to be effective,
it needs to be set up properly and updated regularly. Check
your online "Help" feature for specific instructions. Information on how to turn on your operating system's
firewall.
Windows XP and Macintosh OS X operating systems have a built
in firewall. Here's a video that teaches you how to turn on
the firewall for each of these operating systems. This
option is available only if you have these operating system
versions.
Window's XP
http://security.getnetwise.org/tools/firewallxp-instruct
This video tutorial shows you how to enable the firewall
option built into the Microsoft XP operating system.
Macintosh OS X
http://security.getnetwise.org/tools/firewall-osx-instruct
This video tutorial shows you how to start the built-in
firewall of the Macintosh OS X operating system. This option
is available only to users of the Macintosh OS X operating
system version 10.2 or later.
If your operating system doesn't include a firewall, get a
separate software firewall that runs in the background while
you work, or install a hardware firewall — an external
device that includes firewall software. Several free
firewall software programs are available on the Internet.
You can find one by typing "free firewall" into your
favorite search engine.
Here's a sample list of firewall software that you can
purchase online.
http://security.getnetwise.org/tools/results/any1.php
This list was gathered and provided by the GetNetWise
website. We cannot guarantee the effectiveness of any of the
products listed on the GetNetWise website, nor do we endorse
any products. The National Cyber Security Alliance is also
unable to provide any technical assistance with any of these
tools.
Anti-Spyware Software
Anti-spyware software helps protect your computer from
malicious spyware that monitors your online activities and
collects personal information while you surf the web. It
works by periodically scanning your computer for spyware
programs, and then giving you the opportunity to remove any
harmful surveillance software found on your computer. Some
anti-virus software contains anti-spyware capability. Given
the increasing sophistication of spyware programs, consider
using two different anti-spyware program search one looks
for slightly different sets of threats, and together they
may offer increased protection. Zombie Drones
Some spammers search the Internet for unprotected computers
they can control and use anonymously to send unwanted spam
emails. If you don't have up-to-date anti-virus protection
and a firewall, spammers may try to install software that
lets them route email through your computer, often to
thousands of recipients, so that it appears to have come
from your account. If this happens, you may receive an
overwhelming number of complaints from recipients, and your
email account could be shut down by your Internet Service
Provider (ISP). |
