Six steps to protect your computer

India
November 27, 2010 1:46am CST
Friends, I find this very helpful hence sharing, I am sure you will find this useful too. http://www.vidsage.com/technology-computers-gadgets/50-technology-computers-gadgets/964-10-easy-ways-to-protect-your-pc.html 1. Turn on automatic updates. After installing your operating system, you usually forget to pay attention on operating system updates. If your operating system is not updated for protection against loopholes and security threats found after you installed it, your computer may be vulnerable to outside world. Hackers can get access to your computer by using these loopholes and they can do anything with your computer. So, to keep you safe, turn on automatic updates. When automatic updates are turned on your operating system is updated frequently and you will be safe from unwanted trouble. You can turn on automatic updates from Control Panel = Security Center = Automatic Updates. You must be logged in as Administrator to change this setting. 2. Turn on Windows Firewall. Windows Firewall is a barrier between your computer and outside Internet. It protects you by filtering incoming and outgoing traffic and allows only trusted programs to communicate through Internet. You can turn on Windows Firewall from Control Panel = Windows Firewall. You must be logged in as Administrator to change this setting. 3. Install good anti-virus software. Anti-virus software protects your computer from viruses that can damage your computer. Only installing anti-virus software is not enough. Your anti-virus software must be updated regularly with latest virus definition database, as new viruses are found daily. 4. Run windows in a restricted mode. When you log in using a limited account, you are protecting your computer from various threats, as limited account runs in restricted mode and cannot damage your computer by changing system files or registry. In fact, limited account cannot install new programs and cannot write to system files or registry, thus making you safe from unwanted programs which get installed automatically from Internet without your knowledge. Log in as Administrator only when you want to do some maintenance work or install new programs. 5. Do NOT click on untrusted links. You should not click any link received in your email, unless you trust the sender. If you click on this untrusted links, it can take you to fake websites and can steal your user name, password, credit card details, or can install unwanted programs without your knowledge. Instead of clicking on the link you received in your email, copy the link address and paste it in a new browser window. Before writing your user name, password, credit card and any other personal details, recheck the domain name in address bar. 6. Do NOT write in pop up windows. You should write your user name, password, credit card and any other personal details in main window only. If during your work, any pop up window opens asking your password or credit card details, close it immediately. DO NOT write your personal information in any pop up window. Professor
4 people like this
14 responses
@thesids (22180)
• Bhubaneswar, India
27 Nov 10
Hi Professor, Yes, these are really good tips but I have a word of caution or all those who use Pirated Operating Systems - DO NOT, yes, DO NOT turn on the Automatic Updates and always keep them turned off. If you do not do this your computer may be infected directly from Microsoft and would never boot or always show you - Use Genuine Windows. Cheers, theSids.
@voldrox (7191)
• India
27 Nov 10
The same way my Kaspersky anti-virus got black listed.
@theshun (165)
• India
1 Dec 10
Hi Professor, Thank you for your guideline to run the computer system without any trouble. Hope this will help for many users. Bye and have a good day!!
@dorannmwin (36392)
• United States
30 Nov 10
Though I did already know all of these tips to help to protect my computer, I think that it is a great thing that you've shared them because there are times that all of us, despite the fact that we try to be careful people will forget about the safety of our computer and to be reminded of these things is a great thing so that we will be more vigilant about protecting our computers. Now, if I could only find an operating system that is virus free.
@kai9999 (1700)
• India
29 Nov 10
windows firewall is not sufficient you need to install alternate firewall like zonealarm or comodo which as sandbox feature. you need to install spam blocker to protect form unwanted mails and last but not least use link checker by avg which warns about unwanted and potential dangerous sites.
• India
29 Nov 10
computer care - To keep you safe, turn on automatic updates.

Turn on Windows Firewall. 

Install good anti-virus software. Anti-virus software protects your computer from viruses that can damage your computer. 

Run windows in a restricted mode. 

Do NOT click on untrusted links.
Yeah Professor it is a very good information not only for those who are just beginners but also for those who already know it. How often we make a mistake out of inadvertence and shut off the window update because we find it irritating, or keep the firewall off because we think it might slow down our computer. I would also like to mention some more steps here such as to scandisk and defrag your disk regularly, cleaning up your temporary files and keeping few icons on your desk top. Some people overload their system with unnecessary programs which they might never use. Thanks again professor for sharing. Have a nice day.
@tomitomi (5429)
• Singapore
28 Nov 10
That's great prof. Thanks!
@Hatley (163781)
• Garden Grove, California
27 Nov 10
hi professor those are wonderful tips and some I did not know tool' also if your computer is opening up too slow, go into you virus protection and set it to run after the c omputer is logged on so it will not slow it down.Also if your computer is running slow a lot dring the day and you have your virus protection set to scan each day, set it to scan once or twice a week instead preferably when you are at lunch.then it will not slow down your computer.Also do not leave computer and monitor running 24/7, turn them both off when you are going out or off to bed.
• Philippines
28 Nov 10
For me the best way to protect your computer is to use trusted software and hardware for your computer. Do not install sub standard hardwares. My advice when your buying your hardware pick the more expensive one than the cheaper one because it will last longer and it will not give you a headache..
• Malaysia
28 Nov 10
This is very good advice. The problem is oftentimes when we have our firewall installed it will constantly warned us of sites that it think is virus-prone. Sadly,these are the sites which we sometimes want to visit. I once had firewall warning me not to go to check on my email. That was the pits! I had the firewall taken off.
@johnpillai (2082)
• Germany
27 Nov 10
Professor tank you very much for this useful post. All of computer knowledges are self studied knowledge. Still I don't know so many things. Some times I don't understand the terms even. your post is so helpful to me. thanks again
@llbo1981 (1237)
• China
28 Nov 10
Yes,i agree some of your advice about the safe of the computer.Turn on automatic updates is not a good method to protect our computer,i think.Many automatic updates is harmful to our computer,maybe it will bring us some virus
@fl0rencia (414)
• Philippines
27 Nov 10
Hi. Your steps of protecting a computer are kind of generic. Maybe you should provide softwares that would really help with that and not just say avoid this and don't do that. There's a lot of computer protection tips that is better than that. Maybe you could do a research first and add it up on your article. In that sense, make it in a way that it would really be effective.
@Xansus (946)
• Bulgaria
27 Nov 10
Pass on second and third and turn off windows adds and you are fine :D I have a inet provider witch protect me with network firewall and i dont have to use mine in order to have internet anyway . And antivirus is heavy and you can reinstall for 20 min your windwos anyway if you somehow brake it :P
• United States
28 Nov 10
Thanks for the heads up on protecting ourselves online and our computers.