Basic Computer Security
Posted by Joseph Brochin
I get many emails from customers asking me what measures they can employ to keep their computers and their bank balances safe when they are shopping online. Keeping your data safe on your computer can be broken down into a few golden rules.
Use an official copy of Microsoft Windows.
Turn on automatic updates. Microsoft Windows will update itself automatically when new security updates are available.
Get some anti virus software. A free version is available from AVG.
Update your anti virus software daily this is a very simple task. The AVG anti virus software updates itself when you switch your computer on.
Make sure the windows firewall is turned on
Don’t use illegal copies of software, a lot of illegal copies contain spyware and hidden executables that will attempt to log your computer activity, recording keystrokes etc.
Run Spybot Search and Destroy regularly it’s an excellent piece of software, that’s easy to install and use. It is also free.
Shopping Online
Shopping online can be a far more relaxing experience from the chair in front of your computer. Who wants to be repeatedly bashed in the back of the legs with a shopping cart or stand in a long checkout line that never seems to shorten?
Shopping online also saves you money I probably save hundreds of pounds a year by doing my grocery shop online. It is far easier to find the best bargains and special offers just by clicking on the search button.
Basic Online Shopping Security:
Try to use a credit card or even better use your credit card through a middle agent like PayPal or Google checkout. These methods of payment will give you an excellent chance to get your money back if on one of those very rare occasions something goes wrong.
Before entering your payment details or password always check for the padlock and make sure it’s closed. Click on this padlock and you will be given more information about the sites security certificates etc. Also check your browsers address bar, the sites address will begin with https, the s on the end of the http denotes that any information transferred between your browser and the site is encrypted and cannot be read if it is intercepted. (PayPal’s address is an example of a secure address https://www.paypal.com/)
A lot of computer users also seem to be wary of purchasing digital products on the internet. They tend to panic and get a little confused when they are redirected to a merchant. When purchasing software online through an agent like BMTMicro, Swreg, PLIMUS, RegNow, share-it, etc. These merchants also give you an extra level of protection and in all the years I have been purchasing digital products on the internet through a merchant I have never had any problems with security; or getting a refund if I felt the product was not fit for purpose.
Never ever click on a link you have received in an email, unless you have been expecting the email as part of a sign up process to a subscription list etc. Remember banks don’t send emails asking you to confirm your details.
Use Roboform or some other password manager to securely store your encrypted login data. Roboform offers an extra layer of security by verifying sites as it retrieves the login data required. The free version allows you to store up to 10 passcards
Educational Adventures supply special needs software to LEA’s and parents.
Download Roboform: Click Here
Download SpyBot SD: Click Here
Other Infomation: Click Here
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