some precautions every computer user should implement

HERE ARE SOME PRECAUTIONS THAT EVERY COMPUTER USER SHOULD IMPLEMENT INTO THEIR COMPUTER SECURITY

• Make routine or schedule antivirus scans.

It’s very important to run a regular full virus scan of your windows computer system once a week, doing this will detect and pick up any PUP’s (potently unwanted programs) viruses, malware, worms, spyware, or any other threats that may have dropped onto the system.

• Keep your virus definitions up-to-date.

This is a very important step, you want to make sure you have automatically installed the latest virus definitions and software updates. Another common mistake is letting your paid subscription run out on paid antivirus software, this means you can’t update to the latest virus definitions.

• Keep Windows up-to-date.

Keeping your Windows operating system up to date with security patches and services packs is very important, this can block any security holes in your operating system. Never use the pirated cracked software. These can be packed with backdoor Trojans.

• E-mail spam blocking or filtering.

A lot of junk or spam e-mail can be harmless most of the time. But there is a nasty type of e-mail that use a phishing tactics to try and convince you that you have won a prize or you’re entitled to a refund of money or you have a parcel waiting for delivery to you or your bank needs you to update your banking details. This, of course, is a scam and they are trying to con you out of your money, the e-mail messages can contain viruses or worms, which can install a backdoor in your computer system to exploit your network and steal your sensitive personal data and login information details to your bank. Using software like MailWasher can help stop email spam.

• There are some simple tips to keep the computer secure:-

1. Never click on hyperlinks in your e-mail
2. Never open attachments from a stranger or unknown source.
3. Look for Typos and Poor Grammar.
4. Scam Email use greeting “Dear Customer”. This is a fake email, your bank would use your full name.
5. Phishing emails will request personal information from you, such as your bank account information, mother’s maiden name, passwords, secret question, and answer etc. Your bank will never ask for this information in an email or ask you to perform security-related changes to your bank account details in an email.
6. Never use the public computer like cyber café or wireless connection to do online banking. Because your personal information could be stored on the computer and retrieved at a later date by a cyber-criminal or hacker.
7. Always use strong passwords and change them regularly. Use at least 10 to 15 characters with capital letters and lower-case letters, also use a mixture of numbers and special characters. (example 8oB_S@m#$xX-)
8. Avoid password that contains birth dates, family names, pet names, football teams, these can be easily socially engineered from you.
9. Never store sensitive information on your computer.
10. Never let a stranger remote into your computer.
11. Use password encryption software like LastPass
12. Never use bad reputation file sharing websites or peer-to-peer (P2P) networks or torrent sites. If you are going to download freeware or any other type of content from the internet, make sure it’s from a reliable source. Pirated software and cracks contain Viruses, Malware, Trojans, Rootkit, Spyware, and Worms. These can lay hidden and undetected on the computer system to the average user.

That’s it, Hope this article helps you out. Please share with friends and family.