MCN Computer Security Recommendations
More than ever before, access to the Internet comes with a greater amount of responsibility. Good
computer security not only protects your personal information, but
prevents other computers and networks from being harmed as well. Spam, viruses, worms, trojans and other malicious software are all problems which every internet user may face.
MCN technical staff has several recommendations, which can improve your computer security and prevent problems from happening:
- Use a Firewall. Firewalls prevent incoming network traffic from most computers, while allowing outgoing traffic from your computer(s). A firewall can be a small hardware device that sits between your broadband connection and your computer, or it can be a software program that runs on your computer.
- Install Anti-Virus Software. Computer viruses can be a minor annoyance, but they can also destroy valuable data on your computer. They can also open back doors for malicious software used by hackers to infect and control other computers. Virus
software from both commercial vendors and free open source software is
available. In later posts we'll be providing links to software options
for fighting viruses.
- Don’t Install Untrusted Software. One of the most pernicious security issues is the installation of spyware programs. These programs are installed as part of other software, usually freely downloaded utilities and games. Spyware installs invisibly on your computer, and can cause serious problems up to and including theft of personal data. Two great program for detecting and removing spyware and adware are Spybot Search and Destroy and Ad-Aware
- Install Software Updates. This is a critically important step for users of Macintosh, Windows and Linux operating systems. To
prevent your computer from falling victim to a security hole we'll be
pointing you to information on how to run security updates on your
software.