Security Tips

From TSG Library of Knowledge

You behavior while online is your first and best defense against malware. While antivirus software is complex, malicious programs (malware) are created every day before antivirus applications have time to update to block that vulnerability, leaving the antivirus software useless. There are few security tips to follow while online; if these are followed, coupled with an antivirus application, your chances of being infected are next to none.

Five Things to do to Protect Yourself

Adapted from Leo Laporte's Five Things To Do To Protect Yourself:

Don't Open E-mail Attachments

Even if an attachment looks like it's from a friend, don't open it, it could have been sent from a hacker and have a virus in it. Ask the sender if they really sent the attachment before opening it.

Don't Click Links In E-mail

Never click links in e-mail, type the address into your browser by hand. Since you can name links different than what they actually are (like this: http://www.google.com) and since links may look like they go somewhere they don't (like http://www.google.com@members.example.com/ may look like it goes to Google, but it truly goes to example.com).

Don't Download Files From Places You Don't Know Are Safe / Don't Use BitTorrent or P2P Apps

When you are downloading files, especially applications and .exe files, stick to the big sites. CNET, SourceForge, Microsoft, Apple, etc. Chances are, you can find that application on a large site. If you must download files from a smaller or less reputable site, scan it with your antivirus software right after you download it. BitTorrent and other P2P (person to person, a way of transmitting data) application may look great, but it can take only minutes using one to be infected. They often entice you with free music or software, but along with them are viruses.

Update, Update, Update!

Microsoft, Apple, and Linux development teams are always finding new holes in their operating systems then creating fixes, or patches, for them. To receive these patches, you should have the automatic update feature on and manually check every few days.

Get a Firewall

It is critical to have a firewall of some sort running while online, they block attacks on your computer. Routers are great hardware firewalls, since they block attacks before they reach your computer, cannot be disabled by viruses, and apply to any computer connected to that router -- it blocks attacks for more than just one machine. You should also run the simple built-in firewall on your operating system.

Other Tips

Rogue Antimalware Applications

While spyware protection has become popular, black-hat hackers have created fake antispyware programs that can simply waste your money or in worse conditions infect your system. Many of these programs are advertised in pop ups or in ads that mock antispyware/antivirus applications scanning your system. While it is much better to use a common antispyware application (see Antispyware), if a feature in an application interests you and it does not use any of the above advertising tactics, you can use it after ensuring it does not appear on Wikipedia's rogue antispyware application list.