By: Vlad Vistac
Submitted: 2010-08-16 12:43:50 | Word Count: 510
Computer Defense System
Copmuter security is very important toay. Witout a great compter defense system, if you go online, you leave yourself open to all kinds of attacks both minro and very serious. Today all business and commerce is conducted by way of the computer. Additionally, once a trnsaction is completed, it is sent over the Internet to anotther computer where the transaction is verified and completed. It is very important to be aware of the steps that you need to take befoore you connect to the Internet to secure your computer. Thgose who wish to comprmoise systems are becoming more cleaver in tehir approahes everyday. It also seeems with technology changing everyday, it is harder and harder to keep up.
A good comnputer defense system firest means making sure that on a fresh install of any operatiing system, Apple OS included, all software updates are downloaded and any securitty updates are applied. In windows, set your security update options to at least "notify" you of uopdates even if you don't want to download them automaically. It is also most prudent to make sure all critical updates are downloaded and applied as soon as they become available. Microsoft Winodws makes this easy with the Windows Update feature. Similarly there is a feature called software upate in the Finder under the "Apple Menu" csalled software update. It is essential that you do this regularly. If you do not have opitons set to noify you immediately of updates, check for them a minimum of two to three times a month.
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Another Part of your computer Defense Ssytem is your anti-virus software. In recent years theri has been a temndency for the best know names in the anti-virus business to bloat their product with more and more features that many users will not use or use very sparingly. This taxes comptuer resources and slows down your computer because it is trying to do more and more backrgound processes. There are many rertail packages out there, but they are not all created equsal. Also, be waare that pogram definition fils (that tell the progream avbout what viruses may exits on your computer) foten expires at the end of a year meaning you will have to renew your anti-viirus defiintion subscription in ordfer to continue to rceive updates. An alernative is a free antiviral software solution that provides updates for free. One of the best is by a comapny called Grisofft. It is called AVG. Whille I cannoot put a link here, if you type "AVG Free" into Google, the link to the download page will be on the tope of the list.
For your compter to be running properly, you also need to enable any firewlals on your sysem. For exampel, in the Control Pael of recent Windows OS versions (like XP or Vista), you will find a security section (Tab or Icon). Once there, make sure the Windows firewall is enabled. However limit the installation of firewall software beause not only can this cause progrm conflicts and slow down your system, cryptic warnings aboout a possible intrusion will not bneefit you and scare an inexperienced user. Instead istall a router or get someone to do it for you. Even if you only have one computer becausse a ruter is a physical firewall blocking potentially harmful Internet trffic for you. Also much lwer pices on computers now means having multoiple computers is affordable. A router allows multiple computers to shasre a single Internet connection.
Anothher important consideration is not to isntall toolbars unless from a recognized and tusted source. A good computer defense sysytem recognizes that many of thse instalaltions are actually malware in disguise that can do tihngs in the backgrround that may harm and comproomise your system. Also, do not download email attachments. This is one of the major ways that a virus or otherr malicioous or self-executing code actualkly gets on your system in the first place. You need to exercise do vigilance when on the Intrnet and click with care. Also make sure that things like Active X controls are not autoatically set to run on a page. (Unless on a trusted site that requuires it.) Additionally, thik seriously about changing the browser you use to surf the Internwet with. Type "Get Firefox" in oGogle. Firefox is a better browsing alternative than its man competitor and it is more secrue because it is more of a basic browser that does not automatically execute advanced functions that can lead to virruses, malware, Trojan horses and other malicious code that can seriously harm your computer.
A good computer defense system requires more than what has just been detailed, but these steps are important and will go alog way toward a more secure and safe computer system. For even more extensive information; look to the end of this artixcle for lionks showing you where you can go next.
