Warding Off Computer Threats – Practical PC Security Tips
The internet has opened up a great world of opportunity for the people of today. However, this great tool has also opened up people’s computers to a vast ocean of threats that could do great damage to a lot of individuals who are quite dependent on technology. For this much priority should be given to PC security.
Multitudes of viruses, Trojans, worms, spyware and other dangerous data lurk online and their damage is growing ever more. In 2003 alone PC viruses have cost a lot of businesses over $55 billion worth of damages and the rate continues to grow. Millions of home computers have also been infected.
The importance of protecting your computer cannot be overstressed. Here are some practical security tips for your pc:
1. Update your Windows regularly and automatically – the power to protect your PC is actually already in your computer. You just have to tap this feature to make sure that your PC is ready to ward off any security threat. It is best that you keep your computer updated with the latest protection patches by having the Windows security system updated automatically.
2. Unhide your PC file extensions – a lot of viruses sent online mask themselves to appear like a harmless file by posing as an innocent picture or sound. Unhide file extensions so that you easily see what files really are. Avoid opening files that have filenames such as .exe .com or .cmd because they may be imbedded with harmful content.
3. Increase the security level of your browser – Web Browsers have security adjustment features that you could raise to increase your level of protection. This will ward off annoying and potentially threatening pop ups and attachments from various websites. Just be sure to register the sites you frequently visit so their features would not be blocked.
4. Be cautious about clicking emailed links – a lot of people catch the viruses themselves without knowing it. Avoid clicking suspicious links forwarded to through email even if they came from your friends or family. Viruses could mimic your contact’s addresses to make you believe that they were forwarded to you by them.
5. Scan email attachments – before opening email attachments, even those who came from trusted sources, be sure to scan them first so that you are sure that they are safe to open. Normal email attachments might still have virus attached to them so you want to be sure you will not get infected.
PC security is a very important matter these days. Follow these tips to increase your protection.