[]1 has been bugging me to put up a journal entry that talks about basic computer lockdown stuff, similar to my Firefox post.
So here you go, Tracy.
Best protection against spyware? DON’T INSTALL STUPID CRAP. Second best? Ad-aware and Spybot. Run ’em every now and again. Plus, installing the free Google Toolbar will give you a free popup blocker that’s nice and helpful.
Other things that will help protect you from the baddies on the Internet:
Firewalls – the bad guys can’t phuck with your computer if they can’t get to it. Putting your broadband connected computer behind a router/firewall such as the Linksys BEFSR41 not only lets you share a dedicated connection with multiple PC’s, but provides pretty good firewall protection. Another solution (which can be used in tandem with a hardware firewall) is a software firewall on the PC itself, such as Zone Alarm. This also helps you realize when you’ve GOT a Trojan or something else nasty, because you’ll see it trying to reach out over the webbernet and do evil things.
Software Updates – Most baddies work by exploiting “holes” in existing software. Once these holes are discovered, the programmers quickly patch them up (sometimes), but it doesn’t do you any good if you don’t install the patches. Windows Update will keep your Microsoft operating system up to date – almost all of the major worms that have wreaked havoc on Windows users took advantage of a security flaw that was corrected by a patch at least a few weeks before the worm was released. If you’re up-to-date on your software, you’re a lot safer. Same thing goes for your anti-virus files; make sure you have that software set to update. AV programs can only detect viruses that they know about.
Want to see how well your firewall is protecting you? Care to find out the gaping holes in your computer security? Visit Shields Up! and run the tests there. If you pass ’em all, you’re pretty darn safe.
It really does amaze me how many people fail to keep their antivirus defintions up to date (or don’t even run AV at all), or don’t keep their operating system patched.
It’s like a car. It needs maintence. You take your car in when the “check engine” light goes on. You put gas in the car, and check the air in the tires. A computer is not a toaster.
Also, if you have a broadband connection, please either put your computer behind a firewall or at least install something like ZoneAlarm or use the firewall built into XP. Ideally, you should be behind a router AND running a software firewall, but at least do one.
Think about how foolish you would feel if someone broke into your house and vandalized your walls, stole your stuff, and used your phone line to call a bunch of 900 numbers, and when asked “did you lock your door?” you said “why should I have to?”