After a long hiatus, I am back. Let's just say that life has a way of throwing things at you, sometimes all at the same time. That said, let's get back to business.
It seems like a good time to remind ourselves about internet security. No one expects to be a victim of a computer virus or identity theft. The perpetrators are unseen, they don't jump at you from behind a building. Their crimes can be as devastating, however.
A quick refresher on best practices when using your home or business computer:
1. Use a firewall: Most Windows systems come with a firewall. Make sure it is set to "on" unless your security software has one of its own that conflicts with the Windows firewall.
2. Use anti-virus software: With the availability of free anti-virus packages, no one should be without protection. Business owners should invest in anti-virus software because most free packages are for personal computer users only. They are not designed for business use.
3. Be smart about email attachments: If you receive an attachment, do not open it unless you were expecting it. This type of trick is innocent looking because typically it appears to come from a friend or business associate. In fact, it may have. That's how many viruses work - they send themselves to email addresses in an address book. Before opening an attachment, contact the person who sent it and find out what it is.
4. Email is not private: Never send any confidential or private information in an email. Email is not a secure medium.
5. Create strong passwords: Tempting as it is, don't use the dog's name. Use a combination of letters, both lower and upper case, numbers, and, if permitted by the web site host, use a special character or two.
These are just a few of the security measures that help to keep your home and business systems safe and secure. Security requires a many faceted approach, but with the right tools you can lessen the possibilities of becoming a victim.
