For Windows
Microsoft provides the latest Windows program and security patches. Make certain you perform most of the Critical Updates and Service Packs. For more information on updating Windows, please visit Update Windows.
It is recommended that you install a full antivirus package on your system. For information on FREE antivirus packages for home use visit:
To scan your computer using a free online online virus scanner visit any of the following sites:
To see additional virus information, confirm hoaxes, or download additional clean-up utilities visit:
Below is a list of malware removal tools you can try for free. These tools will help in the removal of viruses, trojans, spyware, etc.
ZoneAlarm offers a free, simple firewall program used to track the network traffic coming in and out of your computer. It can be configured to block or allow specific program connections.
Microsoft Windows Vista/7 users have a built-in firewall as well. To activate the firewall:
- Go to the Control Panel
- In the top left corner click on Classic View
- Double-click on the Security Center
- Click on Windows Firewall on the top left corner of the screen
- Click on Change Settings in the middle of the screen
- Select On (recommended) and click OK
PLEASE NOTE: When you turn on your firewall, some internet applications may stop working. You may have to adjust your firewall to allow specific connections.
Automate Your Updates
- It is possible to configure Windows to download updates and software patches automatically. Similarly, you should set your antivirus program to download virus updates on a regular basis.
Patch Your Software Applications
- Any software application running on your machine may be vulnerable to hacking or capable of spreading viruses. Ensure that you are downloading patches and updates to your office applications (i.e., Microsoft Office) and utility programs (i.e., Adobe Acrobat Reader).
Set Secure Passwords
- Many people set either blank passwords or easy-to-guess passwords. Unfortunately, this makes it easier for hackers. Password protect your logon, file and printer shares, and other resources on your computer.
PLEASE NOTE: Some systems generate a blank password for the Administrator account. This is an obvious security risk. For added protection, rename the default Administrator account and apply a secure password.
Disable Old Accounts
- It is a good idea to disable (or delete) accounts that are no longer in use. Disable the Guest account if possible or, at the very least, set a secure password. Research any unknown accounts before disabling or deleting. To disable or delete accounts a user must have Administrator privileges.
Stop Sharing
- Microsoft Windows has the ability to share files and printers across the network. If this is NOT a feature you need, turn it OFF. If this feature is not secured properly, it can make your system more vulnerable to viruses and hackers.
- Peer-to-peer file sharing programs, such as Limewire, can introduce security holes even when they are not running. It is highly recommend to uninstall these programs and avoid using them.
Surf Smart
- If you go looking for trouble on the Internet, you will probably find it. Be careful where you go, the links you visit, and the pop-ups that appear. Most web browsers have pop-up blockers built in.
Shut Down
- Turn off your system when it is not in use for an extended period of time. If it is off, it cannot get hacked.
For MAC
As our lives increasingly go digital, security is a major concern not only for the various online services we use, but also for the devices on which we save our data. Chances are that if you’re reading this article, you own a Mac. And on your Mac, you’d like much of the work you do on it to be kept private.
While OS X is relatively secure by default, there are some additional steps you can take to ensure the data on your Mac is only accessible by you, even if your Mac is stolen. Take the following tips to heart to better protect your Mac and its data.
Apple offers a site with the latest program and security patches. To update your Mac OS X:
- Go to the Apple menu
- Select Software Update
The firewall in OS X is a network filter that allows you to control which programs and services can accept incoming connections. While classic firewalls do this on a per-port basis—regardless of which software is using the port—OS X’s firewall can work on a per-application or per-service basis, giving you more flexibility.
To set up your firewall, go to the Security & Privacy system preferences, click on the Firewall tab, and then unlock the preference pane, after which you will be able to click the Turn On Firewall button. This basic option is the best for most purposes, but you can also click the Firewall Options button to see the specific settings for each application as well as access some additional features such as stealth mode (which hides your computer from outside access attempts) and an option for blocking all connections.
The firewall is a good option to enable if you’re connected to a public Wi-Fi network, such as one at a cafe, library, or other hotspot. For home networks you can usually rely on your router’s firewall for protection, though enabling the OS X firewall for added security generally won’t cause additional problems.
PLEASE NOTE: When you turn on your firewall, some internet applications may stop working. You may have to adjust your firewall to allow specific connections.
FileVault is the full-disk encryption routine in OS X that will secure all files on the drive, including OS X system files, applications, caches and other temporary files; any of which may contain personal or sensitive information.
To enable FileVault, go to the FileVault tab of the Security & Privacy system preference, unlock the preference, and click Turn On FileVault. When you do this you’ll be asked to choose the user accounts that are authorized to unlock the disk (you can add other accounts later, if you like). Click Continue and your Mac will begin encrypting your drive. This may take a while to do, especially with large mechanical drives, where both encrypting and optimizing may take a number of hours to complete. For a walkthrough on setting up FileVault, see this story.
Full disk encryption is primarily useful for protecting a stolen Mac. When your drive is unlocked, files on it can be read. However, before it’s unlocked (ie, your Mac is shut down), all data on the drive will be scrambled. This prevents data recovery by unauthorized third parties, who might try to access it using Target Disk mode on your Mac or by removing your Mac’s hard drive and attaching it to another computer.
If you use numerous online services regularly then you will (or should) have different credentials for each one. These may be difficult to remember. Often people store their credentials in a text, Word, or Pages file for easy access, but this is a highly insecure way to store passwords. In OS X you have a built-in alternative for managing passwords called the keychain.
Unlike other security options, the keychain is enabled by default to store your various passwords for online services, email accounts, sharing services, and many other authentication routines. Whenever you see a checkbox for saving your password, or in a drop-down menu when using Safari, this is OS X asking you to store these passwords in an encrypted file called the login keychain.
This keychain can be managed using the Keychain Access utility (/Applications/Utilities). In most cases, unless you’re troubleshooting your Mac, there’s little need to use this utility. Instead, simply use the option to save your passwords and OS X will automatically enter them where appropriate.
There are some third-party password tools such as 1Password that provide expanded password management. If Keychain Access and Safari’s ability to store passwords don’t provide you with the features you need, try 1Password or a similar utility.
Other options for protecting your Mac include securing your computer when you have to leave it unattended and enabling remote access to it; not only to interact with it from afar, but also to track and lock it down, if needed.
The first of these options is setup in the General tab of the Security & Privacy system preference. Just enable the Require Password option and choose Immediately or 5 seconds from the pop-up menu and you’ll be required to enter a password to use your Mac after it’s gone to sleep or the screen saver has started. The shorter the time interval you use in this feature, the better, especially for laptops. Just close the lid to lock the system.
There are few cases where it’s not a good idea to lock your Mac when it sleeps.
To remotely access and track your Mac, open the iCloud system preference and switch on the Back to My Mac and Find My Mac iCloud services. With the first option checked you can access the sharing services you’ve enabled on your Mac. For example, with Screen Sharing turned on, your remote Mac will appear in the Finder sidebar, where you can click it and share its screen to view and interact with your remote Mac’s desktop.
For Find My Mac, if your system is ever stolen you can log into iCloud.com or use the Find My iPhone app on an iOS device to locate your device, send it a command to lock it down unless a password is supplied, have it issue a sound (also a great option for locating a misplaced iOS device), or remotely wipe the device. See How to track a lost computer with Find My Mac for more details.
Overall, while Apple can do very little to prevent your computer from being stolen, OS X does its best to protect the data it holds as well as offers a chance that you can pinpoint its location. With these options enabled, you can be sure your Mac’s data is as safe as possible, with little to no inconvenience for you.
Automate Your Updates
- It is possible to configure Mac OS X to download updates and software patches automatically. Similarly, you should set your antivirus program to download virus updates on a regular basis.
Patch Your Software Applications
- Any software application running on your machine may be vulnerable to hacking or capable of spreading viruses. Ensure that you are downloading patches and updates to your office applications (i.e., Microsoft Office) and utility programs (i.e., Adobe Acrobat Reader).
Set Secure Passwords
- Password protect your logon, file and printer shares, and other resources on your computer. Using blank password or easy-to-guess passwords makes it easier for hackers to invade your system.
Stop Sharing
- Mac OS X has the ability to share files and printers across the network. If this is NOT a feature you need, turn it OFF. If this feature is not secured properly, it can make your system more vulnerable to viruses and hackers.
- Peer-to-peer file sharing programs, such as Bit Torrent clients, can introduce security holes even when they are not running. It is highly recommend to uninstall these programs and avoid using them.
Surf Smart
- If you go looking for trouble on the Internet, you will probably find it. Be careful where you go, the links you visit, and the pop-ups that appear. Most web browsers have pop-up blockers built in.
Shut Down
- Turn off your system when it is not in use for an extended period of time. If it is off, it cannot get hacked.
