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Internet Security - Protecting Your PC
An unprotected computer connected to the internet, just sitting there, not doing anything, will become infected with a virus, worm, or trojan. It's just a matter of time.

It can take as little as 5 minutes on the Internet to acquire a virus, worm, or trojan. If that doesn't scare the hell out of you or cause you any concern, then you probably shouldn't be allowed on the internet. Computer security is not something you can ignore. Viruses, trojans, worms, malware, spyware. They're all out there and they're all actively trying to get into your computer. If you become infected, the infecting agent will not only screw up your computer, but will use your computer to propagate itself throughout the rest of the internet and screw up other people's computers as well.

Protecting your PC and the rest of the internet is the responsible thing to do!

First Things First: Setup a Firewall

Why do you need a firewall and why is it so important? Click here to learn why. You must have a firewall running on your system. These days, it's the only way to protect yourself with any certainity. If you are running Windows XP, you can activate it's built-in firewall. It's the quickest way to get temporary protection until you can install a full fledged firewall. Click here for instructions on activating the Windows XP Internet Connect Firewall.

In order to confidently protect your PC, you must install a full fledged firewall. Everyone must do this, even those who have Windows XP Internet Connect Firewall activated. The easiest, quickest, and best way to do this is to download and install either Comodo or ZoneAlarm. Both are free firewalls that is easy to use and extremely effective.




When the File Download dialog window opens, click on Save. Install the firewall AS SOON AS POSSIBLE. Once installed, you will be protected from anyone hacking your computer from the Net.

Note: If you were running Windows XP Internet Connect Firewall before installing a third party firewall, you no longer need the Windows firewall. Comodo will tell you it is going to turn off the XP firewall for you; ZoneAlarm does not. After you finishing installing ZoneAlarm, go back and uncheck the Internet Connect Firewall box to disable it. Running two firewalls can cause problems with your computer.

Set up a NAT Router

Install a NAT Router. What is a NAT Router and how will it help your PC security? Click here to learn how.

This only applies to Cable or DSL broadband connections. There are a few routers that can be used with dial-up connections, but they're kind of hard to come by. Before you start thinking this is way beyond your abilities, think again. It's a simple matter of unplugging the ethernet cable from your modem and plugging into the WAN port on the router. Next, with the cable supplied with the router, you plug one end into the LAN port on the router and the other end into the ethernet card port on your computer. That's all there is to it. Most routers are pre-configured for easy plugin so it's not at all difficult to do. Adding other computers to create a network is just as simple. Plug one end of a cable into the router, and the other into the ethernet card port on the computer.

I highly recommend the Linksys routers. I use one and many of my friends do as well. Linksys have a variety of routers for individual users or the small home network. For info on configuring routers (the Linksys in particular) to work with IRC, Click Here.

Start Layering Your Security Protection

Now that you have a firewall in place, you can start layering your protection to tighten up your security.

1. Install an Anti-Virus program if you haven't already done so. Anti-Virus software is extremely effective at stopping Viruses, some Trojans, and most Worms. What is a Worm and why should you care? Click here to learn why.

There are a number of good anti-virus programs available on the internet that are as good as any pay-for-use software. One of the best is AVG Anti-Virus. This program is light on computer resources and updates automatically almost every day. It will scan your email for viruses and other nasties, a VERY IMPORTANT AND NECESSARY FEATURE of an anti-virus program! I've used it for a long time now and have been extremely pleased with it. Other free anti-virus programs include Avast, and AntiVir. You can also perform a free online Virus scan of your system from Trend Micro. Of course there are the bloated, expensive, resource-hog commercial anti-virus programs you can use as well. Norton and McAfee are probably the two most recoginized names.

2. Keep your Anti-Virus definitions up to date. An anti-virus program is of little benefit if you don't keep the virus definitions up to date. It's important that whatever program you use, it must have an auto update feature. You don't want to have to constantly go to the programs website and manually check for new virus definition updates. You want the program to do that for you, in the background, without you having to think about it. All the respectable anti-virus programs these days have this feature.

3. Secure Your Web Browser. Internet Explorer is the most popular web browser. As a result, it is the most attacked and exploited browser. If you insist on using it, you MUST keep it patched with the most current updates from Microsoft.

A better alternative is to use a lesser known, and thus less exploited, web browser. One of the best alternatives is Firefox from the Mozilla Organization. Another good choice is Opera. Both browsers are free.

4. Windows Update - Keep current on all operating system patches. Microsoft issues patches for Windows fairly frequently. These critical patches are issued in response to potential or active security flaws. The best way to keep current is to set Windows to automatically check for critical updates. That way Windows will notify you as each becomes available. Better yet, set Windows to automatically check for, download, and install critical updates.

5. Install and run Anti-Trojan software. What are Trojans and why should you care? Click here to learn why.
There are many anti-trojan programs to choose from. For the common home PC users, I recommend BOClean by Comodo. It is FREE ant-trojan/anti-malware software that is the best there is at what it does. BOClean updates itself daily. And the good part is you don't have to do anything to get the updates. The software automatically checks for the updates and installs them without any intervention on your part. That's the way all security software should work.

6. Install Anti-Spyware. What is Spyware and why should you care? Click here to learn why.
Spyware is one of the lesser evils of the Internet. It is, however, something you can control. Microsoft offers a free anti-spyware program called Microsoft Defender for home users. It is very effective and a snap to use. It can be configured to auto-update (highly recommended) and run daily, weekly, or monthly at a time of your choosing. Give it a try. This is a must have piece of security software.

There are two other good Anti-Spyware programs available on the net, and they are free downloads. The first is called Ad-aware, and is the easier of the two to use. The second is called Spybot S&D. It is a more robust program and I recommend it over Ad-aware.

 
Security Related Sites

Internet Security Test
Internet Connection Security for Windows Users
by Steve Gibson, Gibson Research Corporation

Without your knowledge or explicit permission, the Windows networking technology which connects your computer to the Internet may be offering some or all of your computer's data to the entire world at this very moment! Shields UP! quickly checks the SECURITY of YOUR computer's connection to the Internet.

Go to the Shield's UP! site right this minute. Test the security of your internet connection. If you don't have a personal firewall system, I can guarantee the results will scare the bejeebers out of you!


Internet Security FAQ
Broadband Reports.com Security FAQ

Broadband Reports.com is a bulletin board with a wide range of topics related to cable and DSL. It also happens to be one of the premiere sites for security issues on the Internet. Here you can find answers to almost any question you may have about security. If you can't find the answer in the FAQ, go to the Security Forum and post a question. The folks that hang there are security experts (no, really! Security software vendors hang out there too!) and will gladly help you with your problem.

Security Hardware - Linksys Router
The most simple and flexible way to create an Internet firewall (a shield against unwanted intruders) is to install a piece of hardware into your computer system that already has firewall software built into it. The most commonly used firewall device is an Internet Router. A router is usually installed on a network, but works just as well on a stand-alone computer.

An Internet Router, which is installed between your Internet connection and the rest of your computer, protects your system by making your computer virtually invisible to the outside world. Anyone trying to look at your computer from the internet will only see the router and not your computer system. If they can't see you, they can't hack you!

Some routers have firewall software built into their internal construction. These routers offer the added security of firewall software, making it much more difficult for somebody to decode your router’s data, thus making unauthorized access to your computer virtually impossible.

If you have a broadband connection, I strongly recommend you install a router. They are effective, easy to install and setup, and very inexpensive. I highly recommend the Linksys routers. I use one and many of my friends do as well. They have a variety of routers for individual users or the small home network. For info on configuring routers (the Linksys in particular) to work with IRC, Click Here.

Comodo Firewall Pro for the Home User
It's Free.  Forever.  No Catch.  No Kidding
 Personal Firewall Protection
  • PC Magazine Online's Editor's Choice
  • Secures against internal and external attacks
  • Blocks internet access to malicious Trojan programs
  • Safeguards your Personal data against theft
  • Delivers total end-point security for Personal Computers and Networks

Comodo Firewall Pro helps you to understand what is going on by analyzing each alert and providing you an intuitive, easily understandable Security Considerations section with each question it asks.

With its built-in application database, Comodo Firewall Pro classifies more than 10,000 applications according to their risk level such as SAFE, SPYWARE, ADWARE etc. It is the only firewall which has such a large application database and which uses such a database to analyze the security risks.

Comodo Firewall Pro is a complete, easy to manage and effective barrier that keeps hackers out and personal information in. After nstallation you will have out-of-the-box protection against identity theft hackers, Trojans, scripts and other unknown threats.

Personal Firewall Protection
FREE Firewall System for the Home User

ZoneAlarm provides essential protection for Internet users. Combining the safety of a dynamic firewall with total control over applications' Internet use, ZoneAlarm gives rock-solid protection against thieves and vandals. ZoneAlarm makes ironclad Internet security easy-to-use.

Install it and forget it. ZoneAlarm comes configured to deliver "out-of the-box" safety and security. As you use your computer and applications that access the Internet, ZoneAlarm asks you whether you want applications to access the Internet. It quietly protects you while logging unauthorized repelled attempts to access your computer.

Security Levels make ZoneAlarm easy to use. In just a few seconds you can decide how secure you want your system to be. In contrast to other security solutions, ZoneAlarm does not require you to learn about ports, protocols and firewall programming. Security Levels automatically configure the Firewall and eliminate the risk of improper use that comes with other products. With ZoneAlarm's Security Levels, you get peace of mind, not confusion. ZoneAlarm makes Internet safety and security hassle-free.

Go to the ZoneAlarm site and download it today. IT'S FREE