Saturday 14 June 2014

How To Keep Your Computer Secure

By Frankline Bell


It might seem a bit dramatic to state that our computer is our life's blood, but it is a crucial part of the lives of most people. These machines store everything from financial documents and information, details about your company or business, as well as personal information and even precious family photos. Keeping your system secure is a high priority, and the following tips can protect you from many common issues.

One thing you definitely need to install is good anti-virus software, even if you have a Mac or use Linux. Sometimes it can be annoying when the program asks you to approve this program or that software, but it's a lot less troublesome than a virus. Just be sure that you update the software when it prompts you to do so. These updates are crucial because they provide you with protection against new types of malware. Overall, it probably takes just three minutes each day to keep your computer fairly secure using an anti-virus program.

A firewall is another important feature that you need, and you a need a firewall for your router as well as your computer. Usually your computer's operating system will have a firewall built in to the system. Your internet provider might provide you with a modem and router when you sign up for service and this should have a firewall, but you can upgrade to a better firewall with stronger security. A firewall basically prevents unauthorized access to your computer or your computer network. When you have a firewall and anti-virus software in place, these are good ways to ensure security.

Generally every day your computer prompts you to make some type of update. Sometimes a browser wants you to make an update or perhaps the operating system needs to make updates. It takes a minute or so, but these updates are essential steps toward tighter security. They also tend to fix little problems or bugs, so it's worth it to allow these updates.

Many times, however, it's the computer user that unknowingly places a virus or worm or other type of malware on their computer. You can do this by simple clicking on a strange link in an email or by downloading something to your computer from an un-trusted site. It's also not wise to store your passwords on your computer, especially for any site where you give out banking or financial information. It's also wise to have a different password for every site that you use and make sure you have decent passwords that include a combination of letters, numbers, symbols and capitalization. This might seem like a pain, but imagine how difficult life will be if someone hacks into your system, steals your information and uses it for fraudulent purposes.

Of course, you might already be suffering from the effects of malware or dealing with other difficult computer problems. If the computer is not running properly or you are sure you have a virus or other malware, contact the team at GeeksAKnockin'. They can handle a myriad of serious computer problems, such as spyware and virus removal, hardware repair and information recovery just to name a few. They also can help you prevent security issues in the future. A technician can come to your office or home to fix the issue or many times you can opt to have the problem handled remotely, via GeeksAKnockin's virtual house call technology.




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