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Safe & Responsible Computing

10 things you can do to protect your computer and your information
		01. Use anti-virus software. Make sure you have anti-virus software installed on your computer! Anti-virus software is designed to protect you and your computer against known viruses so you don't have to worry about them. With new viruses emerging daily, anti-virus programs need regular updates, like annual immunizations, to recognize these new viruses. Make sure to update your anti-virus software regularly! The more often you keep it updated, the better off you will be. Check with the web site of your anti-virus software manufacturer to see descriptions of viruses and to get regular updates for your software. Help stop viruses in their tracks!
		02. Don't open email from unknown sources. A simple rule of thumb is that if you don't know the person who is sending you an email, be very careful about opening the email and any file attached to it. Should you receive a suspicious email, the best thing to do is to delete the entire message, including any attachment. Even if you do know the person sending you the email, you should exercise caution if the message is strange and unexpected, particularly if it contains unusual hyperlinks. Your friend may have accidentally sent you a virus. Such was the case with the "I Love You" virus that spread to millions of people in 2001. When in doubt, delete!
		03. Use hard-to-guess passwords. Passwords will only keep outsiders out if they are difficult to guess! Don't share your password, and don't use the same password in more than one place. If someone should happen to guess one of your passwords, you don't want them to be able to use it in other places. The golden rules of passwords are: (1) A password should have a minimum of 8 characters, be as meaningless as possible, and use uppercase letters, lowercase letters and numbers, e.g., xk28LP97. (2) Change passwords regularly, at least every 90 days. (3) Do not give out your password to anyone! EVER!
		04. Use "firewall's" to protect your computer from Internet intruders. Firewalls create a protective layer between your computer and the outside world. They come in two forms, software firewalls that run on your personal computer and hardware firewalls that protect a number of computers at the same time. They work by filtering out unauthorized or potentially dangerous types of data from the Internet, while still allowing other (good) data to reach your computer. Firewalls also ensure that unauthorized persons can't gain access to your computer while you're connected to the Internet. You can find firewall hardware and software at most computer stores nationwide. Protect yourself!
		05. Disable file sharing on your personal computer unless you are sure you need it. If you need it, secure it! Your computer operating system may allow other computers on a network, including the Internet, to access the hard-drive of your computer in order to "share files". This ability to share files can be used to infect your computer with a virus or look at the files on your computer if you don't pay close attention. So, unless you really need this ability, make sure you turn off file-sharing. Check your operating system and your other program help files to learn how to disable file sharing. Don't share access to your computer with strangers!
		06. Disconnect your computer from the Internet when not in use. Remember that the Information Super Highway is a two-way street. You send and receive information on it. Disconnecting your computer from the Internet when you're not online lessens the chance that someone will be able to access your computer. And if you haven't kept your anti-virus software up-to-date, or don't have a firewall in place, someone could infect your computer or use it to harm someone else on the Internet. Even in today’s “always on” internet age, be safe and disconnect!
		07. Back up your computer data regularly. Experienced computer users know that there are two types of people: those who have already lost data and those who are going to experience the pain of losing data in the future. Back up small amounts of data on floppy disks and larger amounts on CDs. If you have access to a network, save copies of your data on another computer in the network. Most people make weekly backups of all their important data. And make sure you have your original software start-up disks handy and available in the event your computer system files get damaged. Be prepared!
		08. Make sure to download security protection update "patches" regularly. Most major software companies today have to release updates and patches to their software every so often. Sometimes bugs are discovered in a program that may allow a malicious person to attack your computer. When these bugs are discovered, the software companies, or vendors, create patches that they post on their web sites. Many of the exploits that you hear about in the news are as a result of poor patching practices. You need to be sure you download and install the patches! Check your software vendors' web sites on a regular basis for new security patches or use the new automated patching features that some companies offer. If you don't have the time to do the work yourself, download and install a utility program to do it for you. There are available software programs that can perform this task for you. Stay informed!
		09. Check your security on a regular basis. When you change your clocks for daylight-savings time, reevaluate your computer security. The programs and operating system on your computer have many valuable features that make your life easier, but can also leave you vulnerable to hackers and viruses. You should evaluate your computer security at least twice a year -- do it when you change the clocks for daylight-savings! Look at the settings on applications that you have on your computer. Your browser software, for example, typically has a security setting in its preferences area. Check what settings you have and make sure you have the security level appropriate for you. Set a high bar for yourself! Each time you reevaluate your system’s security, dig deeper. The Internet has several positive aspects as well. One of them is the endless amount of information that you can access, on almost any subject. Do some research and learn something new about your computer or the software that you use.
		10. Make sure your family members and/or your employees know what to do if your computer becomes infected. It's important that everyone who uses a computer be aware of proper security practices. People should know how to update virus protection software, how to download security patches from software vendors and how to create a proper password. Make sure they know these tips too! Share what you learn with your friends and family. Help be a good Internet neighbor!