Safe Computer Strategies.COM
Securing you and your system.
Whether you're a small business or personal computer user, security is an important facet of computer use. There are many elements to security, including backing up your system, protecting from virus, malware, and remote instrusion; avoiding scams and spoofs, protecting your identity information. Security is always a bargain you strike between risk and effort. For example, for maximum password safety you should use a randomly generated 10 digit string of digits and change it once a day. But this would be burdensome, unproductive, and overkill. However, using a 4 digit password that you haven't changed in 5 years is very risky. Depending on your circumstance, business, or personal uses, effective security can be had inexpensively and efficiently.
Types of Security.
Backups -It is essential that you make backup copies of your data, your programs, or even the entire computer system and placed onto another medium. For example, it is common practice to copy important data files to a CD-Rom or a little flash drive (thumb drive) and then place the device in a drawer, cabinet, or even a fireproof box or safe. That way if your system is destroyed by fire, a power surge, a virus, or stolen you can immediately get a new computer and replace all of your data. There are a variety of simples ways to do this procedure. The last thing you want to say if your system totally fails or disappears is, "I wish I had a copy of my documents." Backing up should be a routine part of computer operations. Monthly for personal users, daily for business users.
Fortunately because backups are so fundamental computers there are many easy, efficient, and sometimes virtually invisible ways to accomplish the task. It can also be done in stages. For example, copies of data files are easily stored on DVDs and CD-Roms. The blank disks cost under a dollar apiece and can hold tremendous amounts of most data, pictures, etc. and be stored easily in safes or even offsite. External hard drives can hold tremendous amounts of data and may even be able to hold a copy of the entire computer system's drive and also be stored in a safe or off property.
There are also web based products that automatically backup the system over the internet to a remote computer, usually overnight. The safety of internet backup is very high.
It's very important when choosing your backup method to test whether you can restore the data back to the computer. Too many people rigorously backup up files for years, yet when they attempt to restore a lost file the find it's impossible. Always test your system before relying on it.
Viruses - are programs that infect the computer system and either steal or damage computer files, compromise the operating system, or allow remote access and control of the system by unknown people. Every week thousands of viruses are circulated on the internet. Fortunately a number of firms make anti-virus software that scans incoming data and deletes or quarantines rogue programs. Because new viruses are added daily it's essential to have your anti-virus software get updated to keep abreast of the threats, which is usually done automatically.
There are both free and paid anti-virus programs and testing shows both types to be very effective. The most popular are
Paid - McAfee, Norton/Samantec, Kaspersky,