Free & Easy Ways
to Secure Your Computer - Part 1
By Cate Eales
Appeared July 29, 2005 on castanet.net
Worms, trojans, viruses --- all very scary stuff if you believe what you
see on television or read in the papers. But it's easy to secure your
computer and keep it secure. Here are three things you can do to make your
online life more enjoyable. We'll talk more about this next time.
Virus Protection is the most important step you can take to
protect you computer. That anti-virus program that came with your computer
is most likely a trial version, and unless you pay for a subscription or
install a different program, you are not protected beyond the trial
period. There are several excellent anti-virus programs you can buy, and
there are several excellent free ones, too. I think AVG Free from Grisoft
is easiest to use and provides a high level of protection. You can
download it here:
http://www.grisoft.com/. It is easy to install and configure, it
includes email scanning, and you can set it up to obtain updates
automatically every day. (Be sure to turn off and uninstall any other
anti-virus programs you may already have on your computer before you
install a new one.)
Install a personal firewall, especially if you connect to
the Internet using cable or DSL. A firewall is different from anti-virus
software, and adds an extra layer of protection. Windows XP comes with a
basic firewall, but there are other products that do the same thing
better. Again, there is a wide array of firewalls you can pay for, but I
like the free version of ZoneAlarm because it protects your computer from
inbound and outbound problems, and is easy for a novice to configure and
manage. ZoneAlarm is available for download here:
http://www.zonelabs.com/ (Be persistent and get the FREE, not the
trial, version. You have to poke around the website.) If you decide to use
ZoneAlarm or any other firewall, turn off the built-in one.
Installing, running, and updating your anti-virus and firewall programs
goes a long way towards keeping your computer safe. But no matter how
careful you are, there may come a time when something sneaks into your
computer. Maybe the kids or the grandkids used it to download a game or a
chat program. Maybe someone clicked on an enticing link, or opened an
email they shouldn't have. That's where Anti-spyware programs
can be useful.
Free programs such as AdAware (http://www.lavasoftusa.com/software/adaware/)
and Spybot Search & Destroy (http://www.safer-networking.org/en/index.htm)
will identify, and allow you to remove, applications that track your web
surfing habits and report them to marketing companies. Both programs offer
some protection from programs that change your browser home page without
your knowledge or consent. (Yes, there are programs that do that.) I
strongly recommend installing at least one of these spyware protection
programs, and running it at least once a week. (I have both installed.) As
always, make sure you have the most up-to-date versions, and keep them
up-to-date.
Next time, I'll show you two more easy and free steps to make your online
computing experience safe and fun.
--
Cate Eales has been helping people make online computing safe,
accessible and fun for over 20 years. She lives in Kelowna with her
husband, Eric, and her dog, Sandy. Email Cate at cate@rlis.com with your
comments, suggestions, or questions. To browse the column archives, visit
the Real Life Internet Solutions website at
www.rlis.com.
© 2005 by Cate Eales - All rights reserved
