Computer Safety
Day to
day computer safety is more important (and more vulnerable), with
new viruses, worms, spyware, malware, crime ware, instant malware
(for instant messengers) emerging every minute.
For
more updated information on recent threats you can visit www.virusradar.com.
You
can also scan your computer online for free at www.pandasoftware.com.
Here are
a few steps and recommendations to prtotect your PC and your confidentiality:
1. Anti-virus protection and updates.
We recommend you use Trend Micro Internet Security or McAfee Internet Security Suite.
Even If
you already have any of these programs, you must keep it updated.
To update any of the two programs, simply open the program and
click the Update button.
Moreover,
you do not even need to manually update the Trend Micro Internet
Security or McAfee Internet Security programs because it does
it automatically everytime there's a new update. Simply refer
to the Help section of the program to find out how to set this
up or give us a call and we will walk you through it.
2. Firewall.
We also
recommend the Trend Micro Firewall or McAfee
Personal Firewall which also come within the Internet
Security Suite's of both softwares, or you can buy the separate
modules for anti-virus, anti-spyware, and firewall.
What is
a firewall?
A firewall protects networked computers from undesired intrusion
that can compromise privacy or result in data lost/corruption. It
can block malware that could otherwise scan your computer for vulnerabilities
and then try to break in at a vulnerable point. The only way to
make a computer totally secure is to turn it off or disconnect it
from the Internet. Windows XP and newer versions come with it's
own firewall, however it is highly recommended to install another
firewall that comes within a suite such as Trend Micro Internet
Security or McAfee Internet Security Suite.
If your
computers are not currently protected by an anti-virus, anti-spyware,
or firewall software, simply click on the following links to purchase
Trend Micro Internet Security 2008 or McAfee Internet Security
Suite 2008. Any of these software suites will give you anti-virus
protection, anti-spyware protection, and a strong firewall.
3. Windows Update.
Visit
the Windows update site twice a week or set your computer to auto
update (we recommend the second option). By simply downloading
updates and patches from Microsoft, you can keep your computer
safe and running smoothly. Whenever there is a new threat out
there that infects computers through a weakness in the operating
system, Microsoft reacts quickly and develops a patch that will
correct the problem, but for them to work on your computer, you
must download the patches.
Click the logo below to visit the Windows Update site:

Windows Updates
4. Spyware
removal software.
When you are out
on the web, there will be times when a website you are visiting
will insert programs into your computer to gather information
about you (usually your purchasing preferences). Generally,
these programs are not a direct threat to your computer,
but your personal information may be sent to people you don’t
know. Moreover, if you have hundreds of these programs running
in the background while you are working or on the Internet,
they will slow your computer down and you will not be getting
the performance you should have. We are often amazed at how
many of these programs will get into our computers in just
a few days.
You can
sweep and clean your computers by using a free Microsoft tool called
Windows Defender.
Windows
Defender is a software that helps protect your computer against,
slow performance, pop-ups, and security threats caused by spyware
and other undesired software by detecting and removing it your computer.
You can download it for free by clicking on the following image:

Windows
Defender