Fortunately, there are steps you can get to defend your computer, your information and your peace of mind from computer move stealthily who try to slow down a network operation, or worse yet, pinch personal information to commit a crime.
1.Protect your router and wireless network: Set a strong password or passphrase on your wireless router so that nobody outside of your household can access it. This protects you in two ways:
1) it protects you from other person using up your monthly bandwidth limit.
2) it bars right of entry to storage and devices on your network
2.Keep your software up to date: Software makers frequently release patches, fixes, and updates to address recently exposed bugs and security threats. By regularly updating your software, you are creation certain that you are not susceptible to known risks in your software. It is particularly important to update your browser on a regular basis, since this is the main gateway between your computer and the Internet. You can set your software update frequency in your computer’s settings.
3.Use antivirus/anti‐malware software: Spend in this powerful line of defense, learn to set it up, keep it updated, and let it do its thing. Some well‐known brands of antivirus software include Norton, Symantec and Avast.
4.Enroll to regulate your firewall: Firewalls let you to manage data connections coming in to your network from other computers. You can do this in your current operating system by turning off certain port numbers. Both Mac and Windows PCs currently have built‐in firewall capabilities.
5.Know how to recognize a secure site: A safe site encrypts the data that is transmitted between it and your computer. This means that for the duration of the transmission, information being transmitted is secure. Secure sites are indicated by a Web address that starts with “https” (instead of just “http”) and a padlock icon ‘at the’ top or bottom right of your browser window (not the Web site itself).
However, using a secure site does not assurance that your information is secluded after your data is transmitted – for example, if the website stores your credit card number for future purchases –so it’s a good idea to opt out of enduringly storing this information as part of your customer profile.
6.Delete your cookies: Cookies are small files stored on your computer tracking your use of specific sites such as user preferences, login information, activity history, credit card information, and so on. It’s a good idea to delete cookie files on a usual basis.
7.Block what you don’t want: Web browsers and email applications allow you to stop contact with specific individuals or sites. Most browsers have a content filtering feature which allows you to block sites based on the type of content.
8.Use privacy tools: Social media sites and browsers offer tools that allow you to customize the amount of personal information you share with other users. Take the time to read, understand and use these settings. Another privacy tool provided by browsers – private browsing – lets you surf the Web without leaving personally identifying records in cache files on the computer of where you’ve been. (It’s important to keep in mind, though, that private browsing applies only to the computer you are using. Your internet service provider or other applications may still save records.)
