Guide = How to help secure your PC

[OldSchoolDSL]

I originally posted this on my site, but feel it could do some people HERE some good as well. My little guide is broken down for easy reading (I believe).

These steps will help you remain secure (safe).

1) Antivirus

• Anything is generally better than nothing. However, I personally would not recommend McAfee / *Norton, or anything which depends on your browser.

Why?


The last I knew, McAfee (and a few others) uses Internet Explorer as their user interface. What this means is when you're clicking around in the settings, you're actually clicking around in Internet Explorer. The general idea is since Internet Explorer is pre-built into Windows, McAfee feels this is the best way to use fewer resources and further incorporate their Anti-virus program into windows (thus believing you will add an extra layer of protection).


The major flaw in this is if Internet Explorer, which is the web browser that is built into Windows and often targeted... Becomes infected... And since McAfee (and a few others) work off of Internet Explorer... Guess what happens to your anti-virus program if Internet Explorer gets infected?! If you guessed that it too gets infected and thus becoming useless... You guessed right.


*Norton is the wild card. Sometimes they have a program (version) which completely stands on its own. And some version have used "part of" Internet Explorer. This is something that Norton (the company) seems to debate on its self. While "I", "myself" would not suggest them, they do take a few extra steps to "attempt" to overcome the IE debate / issue. (If you Google Norton Reviews, you will see A LOT of mixed opinions). But I will admit it is indeed a step up above McAfee.

• Free is better than nothing, but paid typically offers more

A free Anti-Virus Program is better than having none at all. But you do often get what you pay for.


A lot of times a free solution will not be updates as often & while popular (mainly because it's free), it may not offer a wide range of support. Free solutions may also provide far to many false positives... Which leads the user more than often, questioning an alerts or ignoring a valid alert. Also many (not all) free anti-virus programs, do not update automatically.


Paid programs often will update automatically, updates often (sometimes every hour or so), have a wide range of support in features, technical support, often yields less false positives, and have a proven track record.

• A full Security Suite will secure your better and use fewer resources

A full security suite will not only offer more protection, but will use less resource then having more than one program running. You will also have less of a chance of software conflicts.


A good security suite will offer

--- Anti-virus protections

--- Trojan protection

--- Key logger protection

--- Spy-ware protection

--- Mal-ware protection

--- E-mail protection

--- Firewall / Anti-hacking Protection

--- Web protection

--- Ad-ware protection

--- Automatic updates

--- Self protections (keeps its self from being infected --- IMPORTANT)

--- Adaptive learning security (program which will learn what you deem is safe -vs not safe, and automatically)

--- Drive Boot protections (floppies, cd, dvd, usb, hd)

--- Root-kit Protection


If you do not want a security suite, then keep in mind that you should have a Firewall / Anti-hacking program also .I would recommend (as my personal choice)... Kaspersky Internet Suite (www.Kaspersky.com ) But it is important that YOU find a program which best fits your own needs.

• Never have more than 1 anti-virus / firewall program

While it sounds like a good idea to have more than one. The truth is they will cancel each other out (making them useless), and will eat resources up like water. You can even crash your computer having more than one installed.

In my next post, I will continue steps on how to protect yourself....

--------------- Added [DATE]1327867716[/DATE] at [TIME]1327867716[/TIME] ---------------

2) Firewall / Anti-hacking


In Step 1 (Antivirus) I ended the importance of having a firewall / anti-hacking protection. It is better to have this included in a Security Suite (as explained), as it will use fewer resources and importantly, have less chance of conflicting with other programs (including your anti-virus program) I also addressed how important is NOT to have more than 1 installed as it could conflict, use a lot of resources, and defeat the reason for having one.

• A router is your best friend

Software programs (all software programs) are only as good as the developer makes them. And even the best security program, can fall victim to Windows errors (blue screens or other issues) or other software conflict.


Software is digital, but hardware is physical and protects you even when your computer is not running at its best.


A router will work with Windows, Apple, Linux, xBox 360, PlayStation3, Printers, and anything else you connect to The Internet. It add an extra layer of protection, by putting a physical device between you & The Internet.


Just because you buy a router, does not mean you should not have a software Firewall / Anti-hacking (preferably a Full Security Suite). A router may help keep things from coming in, just like your software program. But it does not help things from calling out... ie... Something you install, could still "call home" through a router. But a software program would inform you of this.

• Password protect your router

The biggest mistake many people (to many) make when using a router, is not password protecting their router. If anyone can access it, than anyone can access your network (and thus, your computer).


The default IP for every router ever sold in the last 20 years is:192.168.1.1


The default user name and password for every router in the last 20 years is one of the following:

admin / admin

admin / password

admin / user

admin / root

user / password

user / user

user / admin

use / root

root / password

root / root

root / admin

root / user


That leaves only 12 easy guesses for anyone to simply access your router.


This is common knowledge in the technology world (every cable man, repair man, computer wizard, ect...) and thus, common knowledge in the hacker world. This information is publish in every router user instruction booklet and website. It is no secret.


If you didn't know this... It's only because you didn't read the manual which came with your router (or ignored the information).


I would strongly advise you to read your manufacture booklet (or website).Remember your user name and password, but make it so others can not guess it.

• Password protect your wireless

Wireless routers (or routers with wireless options) have the option to add (turn on) wireless security. This protects your information and prevent anyone other than you, from connecting your wireless network (router).


The biggest mistake many people (to many) make is not turning on their protection.


Without turning on your protection, the default user name and pass word is the follow:


You will notice the above space is blank. This is not an error. The default user name and password without turning on your wireless security is... There is no user name or password.


This mean anyone and everyone, within range of your router can access your router (network) without asking or alerting you. They can connect to your computer and even watch you use The Internet. This is not a secret either. It is common knowledge and anyone can do it.


I would strongly advise you to read your manufacture booklet (or website).Remember your user name and password, but make it so others can not guess it.

• Do not use the same passwords for BOTH your router & wireless signal. Do secure them BOTH

Another mistake people make to often (to many), is often they will only protect one or other. You need to understand that you should protect 192.168.1.1 AND your wireless signal. These are the 2 ways you can access your router or access your connection. This means you should follow both recommended steps and importantly, fully read your user manual or visit the website of the manufacturer


In my next post, I will continue to inform you how to secure yourself.....

--------------- Added [DATE]1327867989[/DATE] at [TIME]1327867989[/TIME] ---------------

3) Preventive measures

• Extra steps to secure yourself (not putting all your eggs in one place)

It is important to remember NOT to have more than 1 Anti-Virus / Firewall solution (program).


As explained before, having more than one can cancel each other out, cause conflicts, user up resources, and even crash your computer. I can not tell you how many times I have known someone to install more than one Security Suite, thinking double or triple the protection was a good idea. Sometimes to much of a good thing is a bad thing.


Please keep this in mind, when taking extra preventive measures


A Full Security Suite will protect you (in advance) from the majority of possible issues to which you could face online. But it always a good idea to take some extra preventive steps to help you not have to be in a situation where you would need to depend on those resources (better safe, than sorry).


The following is a list of recommended tips & programs, to which "I personally" use to help protect my PC:

• Password protect your PC

It does not hurt to add a password to your PC. This can help should someone steal your PC or should all else fail, at least you have that 1 extra level of security. All PC's can be password protected... ie... Windows, Apple, and Linux.

• Ccleaner (also known as Cr*p Cleaner) - http://www.piriform.com/ccleaner

---- Helps clean up useless junk files

---- Helps clean up web history, cookies, and general user information (thus keeping things private)

---- Helps clean up registry

---- Helps keep an eye on what exactly is starting up with your computer.


Some features are more advance than others and is important to try to read and learn about them, before attempting to use all of them.

• Spybot Search & Destroy - http://www.safer-networking.org/index2.html

---- Helps prevent spyware or ad-ware from infecting your PC

---- Helps remove spyware-adware


Some features are more advance then others and is important to try to read and learn about them, before attempting to use all of them.

• ADVANCE USER: Host Man - http://www.abelhadigital.com/hostsman

--- Helps prevent you from see ads

--- Helps prevent you from spyway

--- Help prevent you from ad-ware

--- Helps block known infected sites


ADVANCE: Hot man while effective, does require you to TURN OFF and DISABLE your DNS Client Service in Windows. Not doing so, will leave your computer running very slow.


This is because this uses your Windows Host File and this program adds a VERY long list of sites for Windows to Block.Further it can also sometimes block valid sites, such as Sears.com (which does use a lot of 3rd party services and in the past, has been compromised through these services and the reason why, Sears.com is blocked through this program). You will need to sometimes take your own better judgement in using this program.

• Wot - http://www.mywot.com

---- Helps ID good / bad sites, based on user review (red light, yellow light, green light)


* Note = Because this is community driven and uses user opinion. It too is subject to abuse... ie... A good site can sometime be falsely labeled as a bad site. You will need to sometimes take your own better judgement in using this program.


In my next post, I will list the last & most important step to keeping yourself secure....

--------------- Added [DATE]1327868082[/DATE] at [TIME]1327868082[/TIME] ---------------

4) YOU

• The error between user and keyboard

Even with all the security in the world, all the most powerful security programs or hardware, and even following all the above steps... The biggest known security threat and security flaw in every computer in the world is... You.

• Only YOU can learn how to better secure your PC (although my steps will surely get you started)
• Only YOU can control your own user habits
• Only YOU can remember NOT to ignore important messages (something way to many people seem to do)
• Only YOU can learn what is safe or not safe
• Only YOU can decided who can use your computer

YOU are your best friend and your worse enemy. This is the most important advise ANY except or computer wizard could ever give you. Please remember it and apply it