PC Security – Keep your PC Safe from Malware
So, you got a new computer, or maybe you have an old one, and you’re not sure how to keep the bad guys out. Well, you’re not alone and you’re right for wondering. I could spout statistics to you, with inflated exaggerations of how many viruses are out there, and how many people get one every day, but the fact is, almost everyone has something on their computer that shouldn’t be there. Be it as minor as a tracking cookie in their cache (yes, cookies can be bad sometimes, although most of the time they are delicious), to a blatant virus stopping you from doing your daily tasks. We’ll be addressing a number of topics in this blog, and over the course of the next few weeks I’ll be I’m writing about ways to minimize the threats to your computer. Here’s the first:
Get some security software! There are a lot of programs on the market, and many people aren’t sure what they need. Something is far better than nothing, but a few of the better programs are: Norton, Microsoft Security Essentials, Kaspersky, Panda, or CA. Keep in mind, you can only have one, as you will definitely run into problems if you try to put too many security programs on your computer. It’s like getting a bunch of different breeds of guard dogs together; there’s bound to be a fight.
If you can splurge for it, go ahead and buy their security suite, as it will have more than enough to cover you, and since it’s all from the same company, you’ll have little worry about conflicts. If you’re tight on a budget, get at minimum the anti-virus, anti-spyware (also called anti-malware), and preferably the firewall program. These will get you the most basic of protection with minimal intrusion. If you leave out any one of those, you leave yourself vulnerable. What does all that mean? Without getting too in-depth, the anti-virus and anti-spyware/anti-malware will keep the bugs and unwanted programs out, and the firewall helps stop people from randomly spying on you and dropping bugs onto your system. It’s sorta like getting yourself on the “Do Not Call” list against telemarketers. Your firewall can tell who is trying to contact your computer and block the attempt if it’s from someone it doesn’t recognize or trust. I’ll say, however, that if you own a router, wireless or otherwise, you could probably go without the firewall, but I would always recommend having one anyway just in case.
**The Next Topic is: Don’t let the internet fool you**
-Josh Gravedoni
dakotapc
