This section summarizes the most important things you need to know about keeping yourself, your computer, and your information safe and secure in today's technology-driven world.
Update Your Operating System
– Computer security
issues are usually centered around flaws in the operating
system. As these flaws are discovered, software vendors
release patches to correct the vulnerabilities. Make sure
Windows updates are set to download and install automatically on your system.
Install and Update Antivirus Software
–
While
installing anti-virus software is one of the easiest and
most effective ways to protect your computer, it has
some limitations. Because it relies on definitions,
anti-virus software can only detect those viruses that
have definitions installed on your computer, so it is
very important to keep them up to date. You may still be
susceptible to viruses that circulate before the
anti-virus vendors add their code, so continue to take
other safety precautions as well.
Install and Update Spyware Detection Software
–
Spyware/malware has become an major threat to
computer security in recent years, and
many vendors
are now releasing packages that incorporate both
anti-virus and anti-spyware capabilities together.
However, if you decide to choose separate programs, we
recommend that you have only one of each installed on
your system to avoid potential conflicts. Anti-spyware
software varies widely in effectiveness and reliability,
so research your options in advance.
Use Your Computer's Firewall
– Modern versions of
Windows, as well as some antivirus security suites, come with a firewall
that
shields your computer or network from malicious or
unnecessary Internet traffic.
When installed and
configured properly, they provide another layer of
protection against
attacks on your system. Make sure that yours is
enabled.
Backup Your Data
– Protect
important data by copying it regularly to a CD or DVD,
external device, or other recovery system. Establishing
a backup and storage procedure can help minimize the
time required to recover data that is lost or damaged.
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Quick Links |
Best Practices | Internet Safety | ||||||||
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Protect
Your Personal Information
– With many online services, you
will be required to provide personal information in
order to create accounts or to facilitate billing and
shipping of purchases. However, make sure that you
review the website's privacy policies. They should
explain what personal information the website collects,
how it is used, and whether it is provided to third
parties. If you don't see a privacy policy – or if you
can't understand it – consider doing business elsewhere. Avoid Identity Theft And Fraud– Never respond to unsolicited or unknown email messages asking you to click on a link to enter or "update" your personal information. These 'phishing' emails often claim and even appear to be from a bank or online store, but most legitimate companies will never make a request for confidential information via email. If you believe there may be a need for such information by a company with whom you have an account or placed an order, contact that company directly by telephone or regular mail. Communicate With Caution – Chat rooms, message boards, and instant messaging all offer ways to "meet" others, but people aren't always who or what they say they are online. Never post or disclose any personal information without knowing exactly who you are dealing with. Beware of Attachments – If you receive an email with an attached file from an unknown source, simply delete it. Opening these attachments could activate spyware or a virus which may infect your machine. Emails from friends and family can also include viruses if their computer is infected, so make sure you have up-to-date protection (see Best Practices). Use Secure Passwords – Create unique combinations of letters in both upper- and lowercase, numbers, and symbols at least eight characters in length. The more obscure your password, the harder it will be for others to guess. |
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Contact us for more information |
Contact us for more information |
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ABE Computer Services Inc. 4523 Main St. (Egypt) Whitehall, PA. 18052 |
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Web site design and hosting provided through ABE Computer Services, Inc. |
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