Computer Security Tips

Basic Computer Security Safety Essentials

When you think computer theft you typically think of it being done in the home physically right?  That couldn’t be further from the truth though!  It happens every day right from the Internet highway without so much as a glimpse of you being aware it’s even happening.  Computer Fix SLC would like to share with you 5 ‘security essentials’ safety tips that can help keep your computer as private as it should be.     

What Can You Do To Keep Computer Theft From Happening?

Let’s face it; your computer holds some pretty serious and very private information sometimes.  Sometimes even the most common step can be overlooked.  We’ve put together a few simple tips that can help keep your information safe as well as your computer.

Security Essential Tip #1:  Always Use Anti-Virus Software

Anti-virus software is no doubt the best way to protect against the worst kinds of computer viruses which are one of the most horrible ways to get a security breach on your computer.  Most viruses will spread through email, and downloads but some sneak in through the network and sometimes even through USB drives.

More important than installing good anti-virus software is remembering to keep it up to date, most will update themselves but you always want to make sure not do disable the updating configuration.  You also don’t want to go too long without internet connection because then your software will not have a chance to update like it should.  Your anti-virus software will only protect your computer from any ‘known’ viruses, hackers write new ones every day believe it or not, so it’s important to continue on with this article and follow the rest of the tips we’ve given you.

Security Essential Tip #2: Use Your Firewall!

There are differences between bad anti-virus software and good software, but as for your firewall, it is very different.  Your computer comes with a firewall and can fully protect it from an automatic network virus attack.  Always make sure it is turned on, you can check it through your control panel.  If your anti-virus software came with a firewall, we suggest using that one instead because it will more than likely be much easier for you to use.  It will also keep things much more simple.

Security Essential Tip #3: Always Backup Your Computer!

In the event of something horrible happening like a fire, flood, etc., you need to make sure that everything on your computer is properly stored somewhere, easy to recover.  Nothing will keep your data safer than backing it up.  There are many online backup programs available either free or at a very low cost, you can find them by doing a simple Google search.

Security Essential Tip #4:  Keep Admin Access Restricted

At home or even in an office, often times your computer is shared by many people, everyone seems to always be at the mercy of someone else’s computer.  No matter how many steps you take to keep your computer safe, if anyone else has admin access, they have free reign to install a virus-infected program, while unintentionally or intentionally. 

If you are in a multi-user type of environment, you absolutely need to restrict admin access to only those who you know and trust to keep your computer safe.  We advise to only create one admin account per computer and give everyone else their own non-admin account.

The only time you should even use your admin account is when you need to either install a program or change some settings, other than that, leave it alone.  This will help you avoid any accidental situations where you leave your admin account logged in and then someone else sits down and uses it and accidentally downloads a virus somehow.

Security Essential Tip #5:  Always Investigate If You Suspect Anything!

If you notice your internet being more slow than normal, or maybe you are seeing an odd error message over and over, it probably needs to be investigated.  Viruses have no shame in using your computer processing power for the worst intentions, which causes it to run slow.  They will hide among other programs, which cause the error messages.  They can even send a spam email, which will make your ISP raise a red flag.  If you see anything like this, begin an investigation and don’t settle for anything until you know what exactly the problem is.  What happens if you don’t is you risk letting the little viruses install the bigger ones, and the worse ones, which can ruin everything!

At The End Of The Day …

Absolutely no one is immune to computer theft, viruses, or becoming a victim of phishing scams, or a target for spyware.   It just isn’t an option to stay away from all of today’s technology, so to significantly lower your risk of being a victim, follow the tips that Computer Fix SLC has outlined for you in this article and you will be well on your way to a safer computer environment!