Welcome back to part two of our computer security post!

On the last blog post we talked about tips 1-5. Just to recap quickly those are

1) Install and update antivirus and firewall protection

2) Secure your router

3) Use a non-administrator account

4) Keep software and operating system up to date

5) Practice good password use

To read more about those tips click here!

Without further delay, here are the remaining 5 tips.

6) Create and maintain backups

Most of us use our computers to store many of our memories. These can be pictures, videos, data files, music, etc. Creating a backup is fairly easy and will allow you to be able to keep those memories without fear of them being lost in the event that your computer crashes or a virus takes hold. In the event that you would have to factory reset your computer quickly, having a backup will allow you to gain access to all of the items that you have put on it without fear of them being lost.

7) Beware of scams

Where there are people there will always be scams. It is just the reality of our world. Before household computers were commonplace people would call and pretend to be a bank and ask for your information over the phone. It is important to familiarize yourself with the different types of scams floating about cyberspace. When in doubt do not give out information over the phone or computer and do not let anyone have remote access to your computer to ‘fix’ a problem unless you have specifically paid for this service and know you have it.

8) Protect your phones and tablets

I think one thing we often forget is that our phones/tablets are like computers as well and therefore they are susceptible to attacks and viruses. We need to treat our devices like we would our computers. Smartphones rule the roost when it comes to mobile devices and we use them for a variety of tasks which can include sensitive information like paying bills, online banking, and other types of accounts that we need to keep secure. Take time to create backups and be aware of what you are accessing view your mobile device.

9) Prevent spying through your microphone and camera

Many of our laptops and desktops come with a webcam which is a great tool to have, but these can be hacked without your knowledge. A microphone can also be hacked to listen in on conversations. These types of hacks are rare, but it is important to know that they are a potential risk. Some people choose to tape over the webcam when it is not in use or you could simply put a small sticky note over it. For the microphone, you can turn this off in your settings section.

10) Clean up after yourself

This is a very important step. Many times we sell our devices whether they are computers, laptops, or old phones or tablets, when we want an upgrade or are looking for something new. It is extremely important to make sure that everything is deleted off of the old device, but even that doesn’t fully secure your information in the event that someone with knowledge would want to recover it. It is important to use methods for a secure erase. There are a variety of programs available for doing this.

Well, there you have our 10 tips for computer security. All of this information can be overwhelming and we shouldn’t live our lives in a state of constant paranoia about being hacked, but it is important to know how to protect yourself and your information. Taking the time to make sure these steps are in place can let you go about your business with peace of mind.

We use our computers and electronic devices for a variety of reasons. Most of us use it for personal reasons that include sensitive activities such as online banking, shopping, personal and professional emails, paying bills, etc. These types of activities require us to input personal information that, at the hands of hackers, can leave us hurting if they gain access to it.

So, in this two part blog post we are going to share 10 ways to ensure that your computer security is kept at top notch!

1) Install and update antivirus and firewall protection

Antivirus/malware software is an important part of computer security. This software is designed to detect and destroy computer viruses and infections. A computer virus is a piece of code that is loaded onto your computer without your knowledge and runs against your wishes. A computer virus can make a copy of itself over and over again and can quickly use up all available memory causing your system to stop working.

Firewall is a software or hardware that acts as a barrier between trusted networks and untrusted networks.

2) Secure your router

A router is a small box that allows multiple computers to join the same network. It is important to secure this because leaving a router unsecured could lead to someone gaining access to it and potentially every device connected to it. This can be a fairly daunting process so if you don’t feel confident in doing it yourself, it is best to reach out to a friend who can or to a trusted IT professional for help.

3) Use a non-administrator account

An administrator account is an account that is set up during operating system setup. An administrator account has the ability to change settings, install programs, has full control of the operating system, etc. If your computer were to be hacked this could be very harmful in the hands of someone that wants to access your personal data and computer. This isn’t to say that you shouldn’t have an administrator account, that is necessary, but for everyday use a standard account is the better option.

4) Keep your software and operating system up to date

Manufacturers are frequently updating and fixing their software in order to keep everything running well. It is important to accept and run those updates on your computer to keep everything current and up to date as many of these updates patch security holes. It can be frustrating having to think about yet another thing to do with your computer, however this task can be done simply by turning on auto updates and it is something that you won’t have to think about.

5) Practice good password use

For pretty much all of our uses on daily internet usage, we have to have a password. Coming up with good and secure passwords is a process and one that often leaves us creating passwords that aren’t secure. The best way to create a password is with a variety of upper and lowercase letters, numbers, and symbols. There are a variety of options out there as well to keep track of your passwords in case you think you may forget them. The bottom line is, the more difficult the password, the more secure the account.

These are just five of the ten tips for computer security. Stay tuned later this week for more tips!