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Keeping Your Computer Secure

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Increasingly homeschoolers are using the Internet as an integral part of their learning. It is an unparalleled resource, but comes with some potential dangers. A little effort on your part will mean a safe and secure computer that will not be affected by viruses or hackers or loss of data. Where possible we have pointed out free or very inexpensive resources here, so read on!

1. Use virus protection software

Any computer which connects to the internet MUST have virus protection software installed and you must keep it up to date. If you have not registered it then the one that came loaded in your computer when you bought it is probably out of date now and useless. Almost all anti-virus software allows you to get updates automatically, use this facility.
AVG AntiVirus, is an excellent anti-virus programme which has a free version for personal use.

2. Be careful of email attachments

Email attachments are by far the most common means by which computer viruses spread, so you view them ALL with a level of suspicion, even those from people you know. The following guidelines will help you to deal with them safely.

A. Dealing with Unexpected Attachments
 Never open an attachment from someone you do not know or an unexpected attachment from someone you do know. Simply delete them.

B. Dealing with Suspicious Attachments
To be really safe the following procedure should be followed before opening any attachment:

These measures will significantly reduce, though not completely eliminate, the possibility of your computer becoming infected by an email attachment.

C. Turn off the mail preview mode in Outlook or Outlook Express.

It is possible to be infected simply by opening or previewing an email, opening the attachment is not always necessary.

3. Stop Spam

Not only is spam annoying, it is often very objectionable in character, and it is certainly ubiquitous.

The best spam stopper we have ever come across is the Cloudmark SafetyBar, which really does to all intents and purposes eliminate spam. It works on a collaborative basis: all users have a "Block Spam"  button they can hit if they receive a spam mail, and the sender is then blocked from all users. It works, it really does! Hurrah!

4. Install a firewall

A firewall is a piece of software that provides protection against any intrusions into your computer while you are connected to the internet. It will warn you of any potential problems in advance and will protect you from hackers and also from many Trojans sent by email.

Windows XP comes with an inbuilt firewall, which is a good one, although some people feel that having a firewall that is not part of a Microsoft system is a better choice.

Zone Alarm is a good firewall for personal computers and has a free version for personal use. However the pro version does give you additional protection, is relatively inexpensive and is well worth considering.

5. Avoid Spyware/Adware

Spyware or Adware are small programmes or pieces of code, downloaded to your computer along with other downloads, usually without your knowledge. These programmes gather information about you, sometimes simply related to your use of a programme but it can be as extensive as tracking all your online activity and targeting advertising at you accordingly.

Spybot and AdAware are easy to use and free programmes that will detect spyware and adware and remove them from your system. Both are available free for personal use.

6. Keep up to date with Software Patches

Software manufacturers will from time to time release patches for their programmes when a security 'hole' has been discovered. Look in the help files of the programmes you use for a means of registering to be alerted when patches become available, or visit the manufacturers' web sites for information on receiving updates.

You can download patches here for all Microsoft software and operating systems. http://www.microsoft.com/security/

7. Backup Your Data Regularly

They say there are two kinds of computer users: those who have already experienced the loss of important data, and those who will. Whether you use rewritable CD-ROM discs, ZIP discs, a tape backup or good old floppy discs, do actually use them and use them often.