Three Steps To Windows Safety Heaven

Now there are Three Steps To Heaven
Just listen and you will plainly see
How virus and hackers attack and destroy
Your precious internet-connected computer toy
Just follow steps one, two and three

Step one ? Run windows update automatically each day
Step Two ? Always keep your antivirus running and updated
Step Three ? Install and configure a firewall

Faster Virus

Today can many viruses find and infect a computer connecting to internet in less then 5 minutes, even if the computer connects to internet using a modem. And how much time will the 24/7 connected computer not give the bad guys?

So leaving a computer without proper protection is not advisable.

What to do?

There are measures one can do to bring down the risk of intrusion, virus attacks and similar, to a level so low that it is acceptable even for a large corporation.

1. Use Microsoft Windows update. With an internet connection like dsl or adsl (continuous), set windows update too automatically to run each day. For modems, try to run it every time you go online.

2. Keep a good antivirus program installed (there are good commercial as well as free choices). Equally important, check the virus definition dates at least a couple of times per week. Making sure they really are updated.

3. Use a firewall. Buy a cheap hardware firewall. But remember that they only protect from incoming threats. For a two way protection, get a software firewall. Almost all software firewalls can protect you from incoming and outgoing unwanted traffic. However, it does this at the cost of a more complicated configuration.

Can you secure a computer completely?

Not if you attempt to use it for normally. Even military grade security has problems maintaining the security intact. There are just too many variables to consider.

So, keep important personal information encrypted or on a computer without network access (look at Paris Hilton in the news. She had her computer stolen with very, very personal information in it).

Companies should also make sure that they have addressed point 1-3 above.

Final Notes

There is something called backup! Everybody has heard it, most know what it is and only a few selected use it. I will say this only once.

Make regular backups on all-important data. This way can you at least restore it after reinstalling your computer (if viruses have a party in it).

Follow the advices outlined here and you will at least be three steps closer to heaven!

Kenth "The Designer" Nasstrom is the founder of The Designed Software Series. His software can be found at http://www.kndata.com and he also owns http://www.free-newslettertemplates.com as well as http://www.costa-rican-information.com

---

Microsoft Great Plains: Dexterity vs. eConnect ? FAQ

Microsoft Business Solutions Great Plains, former Great Plains Software Dynamics/eEnterprise... Read More

Introducing GRML

Creating a new markup language.Introduction.General Reuse Markup Langauge, or GRML,... Read More

Microsoft Great Plains & CRM in Transportation & Logistics ? Overview

Microsoft Business Solutions Great Plains and MS CRM (client relation... Read More

Google Brings the Earth to Your Desktop

Google Inc. has launched a new software package that allows... Read More

Groove Network. Are you in it?

If you are in a business that passes documents around... Read More

Huddle Up; Groupware on Three

It could just be me, but my experiences with document... Read More

Crystal Reports - Microsoft SQL Server

Microsoft SQL Server is the leader for inexpensive and middle... Read More

Microsoft Great Plains Inventory Control ? Overview For Consultant

Microsoft Business Solutions Great Plains is marketed for mid-size companies... Read More

Microsoft Great Plains - Microsoft RMS Integration ? overview

Microsoft Great Plains and Microsoft Retail Management System (Microsoft RMS)... Read More

Scrap Booking Online: Word Perfect or Corel Graphics Suite?

Scrapbooks are very popular these days. I think that almost... Read More

Know Linux

Linux essentials:It's free for download but you have to pay... Read More

Software Tools To Help Your Business Sell More

Sales are all about leverage, because there is only so... Read More

OSI Layers Model

IntroductionDuring the early years of our modern computer era, very... Read More

Microsoft Great Plains eCommerce: overview for developer

Microsoft Business Solutions Great Plains was designed back in the... Read More

C++ Tutorial 1, Introduction to C++

Introduction to C++Why Learn C++?C++ may at first seem like... Read More

Microsoft Great Plains Jewelry ? Implementation & Customization Overview

Each Industry and market niche has business specific and unique... Read More

Great Plains DOS Support ? Notes for Consultant

Great Plains Accounting, accounting package for mid-size and small companies... Read More

ERP Consulting: Microsoft Great Plains Partner Future Directions

In the Clinton era the status quo was simple: you... Read More

Mozilla Vs. Firefox

For those who are unclear on the differences between the... Read More

Spyware, What is it?

Spyware, what it is and what it does. Basically, spyware... Read More

Computer Phones ? Facts and Fallacies

The stakes are high when considering security, privacy, and savings,... Read More

The Death of Windows

I have always regretted how Microsoft price gouges and rips... Read More

Most Dangerous Types of Spyware are on the Rise: How to Choose the Weapon

Bad News - the Threat is Bigger than it SeemedHow... Read More

Perfectly New Database Query Tool - Foxy SQL Pro Released

Are you a database professional? Do you work with a... Read More

Introduction To ISDN, Part III: PAP

Introduction To ISDN, Part III: Configuring PPP PAP AuthenticationNow we... Read More

Outlook... Not Just for Email! Using Your Outlook Calendar

Microsoft Outlook is one of the most widely used software... Read More

Removing Incoming Email in MS Exchange, C# Example

The purpose of one of our projects was MS Exchange... Read More

Industry Experts Answer the One Million-dollar Question - Why Genie Backup Manager?

Many reasons made GBM a unanimous choice for experts, one... Read More

Groupware Finds Home in American Business: Collaboration Tool Analysis

What is Groupware?Have you ever had to manage document collaboration... Read More

7 Things to Consider Before Buying Small Business Accounting Software

The world of small business accounting software can be a... Read More

Demand More From Your Lead Tracking Software

An integral part of any quality CRM system is lead... Read More

10 Steps To Secure And Manage Your Passwords

Passwords protect your most sensitive personal, financial and business information.... Read More

ERP for Large Corporation ? New Selling Strategy

Our opinion is based on our Microsoft Business Solutions Great... Read More