Simple Practices for Safely Using Your Computer
Simple Practices for Safely Using Your Computer
- Keep virus scanner installed (and updated)
- Have an up-to-date data backup system
- Keep restoration/important software in a known, nearby location
- Lock computer if unattended
Keeping your home PC safe and secure can seem like an intimidating task to some, but here we'll break down the essential points in a straight forward manner so that every one can feel secure about the basics.
- Keep a virus scanner installed (and updated)
Virus Scanners are your single most important piece of security software. Their job is to make sure that only benevolent, or at least non-malevolent programs run when you tell them to.
The other critical aspect is that they must be kept updated. If the updates stop, then you lose protection against the newest, and often most aggressive programs -- not only new viruses, but updated versions of previously known pathogens.
If you are an active OSU affiliate, then you can go here for a download of both McAfee AntiVirus and AntiSpyware. The former protects against overtly malevolent programs, while the latter protects against passively malevolent programs.
- Have an up-to-date data backup system
The truth of computer storage is that eventually, it will all break. The important thing is not to know when it will break, but to know that when it does, you've made backups of your important files.
Backup solutions range from simple to complex, tiny to huge. For starters, a multi-gigabyte USB drive will probably suffice. You can put plenty of pictures, documents, html receipts and more.
If you have a music library, large database, catalog of disk images or just want to have simple but total 1-touch recovery then a portable hard drive is probably more for you.
Lastly, most modern computers can record compact discs, if not DVDs. It's not as good as being able to update a flash or hard drive every day with new versions of the file, but that permanency might be of use also.
An important thing to remember is that if you have a backup device, it should only be your backup device. Don't let it turn into your travel drive or external storage as such activities decrease the likeliness that it will succeed in it's intended job.
- Keep restoration/important software in a known, nearby location
You have software on the computer. Make sure you can put it back on if something goes wrong. That means digging into the box the PC came in, and taking the discs with you when you move. If you get software that comes with a CD-key, write that CD-key in an email to yourself so it's never lost. Recovery software won't help if it's back home, or if the license key has been lost.
- Lock computer if unattended
This is true in both the physical and computing respects. If a laptop, make sure it's not somewhere it can walk away. If you share a domicile that has high traffic, such as a residence hall, large apartment, or greek house, invest in a lock. They're inexpensive and keep casual thieves from taking it. Even desktop hardware can be locked down if you're concerned.
The other aspect is if you walk away from your computer, shut it down or lock the screen unless you are totally fine with anyone who has access to the area making use of it. This will make sure you know who is using your machine.
For more information and tips, please see BuckeyeSecure: Safe Computing.
Current Record: 3827
Create Date: 06-25-2008
Last Reviewed: 07-21-2008
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