How do you know what kind of security is on your computer?
Recently had my family visit and they fooled around with some things. Still cleansing up! How can I be sure of any security my computer has on it?
5
replies
Leave a Reply
Want to join the discussion?Feel free to contribute!
Leave a Reply
This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.
Go in to you system files look around like in your control panal. if theres one you’ll see if not you would need to get one
that’s not a question i can understand..so…
make sure you have the latest antivirus software with the latest definitions installed.
make sure you run spybot search and destroy once a week to remove spyware.
dont use internet explorer.
use safari or opera or firefox.
be careful of what sites you visit.
if your computer is compromised reinstall with your restore disc/partition
I’m going to assume you have Windows and by security you mean malware and virus protection. If you did not buy an anti-virus program, then you don’t have that. However, Windows does come with its own little security feature (Windows Defender) that scans regularly (if set to do so). However, Windows Defender isn’t very effective. If you want added security to protect your PC from viruses, I suggest going and buying an anti-virus software or purchase one online and download (AVG by Grisoft is a good one). I personally do not like using anti-viruses since they cause nothing but problems for me and others I have helped. I’ve done without an anti-virus for 4 years and have yet to have a problem. To check and see if you have an anti-virus, you can go to the Control Panel and look in the Security section. Or, Control Panel>Uninstall a program. It will load up a list of softwares on your PC and you can scroll down the list and see what you have.
How do you know what kind of security is on your computer?
By you installing it. There would be an desktop icon of let’s say Norton Anti-Virus or there would be an icon in the lower right hand corner of your computer which is your system tray.
If you’re using Windows and do not know what ‘security’ you have, then you’ve got more trouble than you think.
In it’s ‘out-of-the-box’ condition, MS Windows is awash with security problems and conditions that most users are unaware of, and securing that system from Internet assault & increasing predation, is not a single application, or a suite: and it’s not a “one step- 10 second fix” that so many want.
It’s layers of protection, user habits, system configuration, real time protection; and most important, threat landscape awareness (because the internet is so fluid and dynamic, it changes almost hourly).
(Check for fairly current threats here: http://blogs.pcmag.com/securitywatch/top_threat/
“Do-it-all” suites (CareOne, McAfee, or Norton, etc.) give users ‘feel good’ security, and lull them into complacency, which often has very bad results.
Look through some of the suggested freeware here,
http://www.snapfiles.com/Freeware/security/fwsecuritytools.html
study up, and pick some of the frontline, real-time defenses. Create a restore point after each install, then run the system to verify that application’s ‘friendliness’ with your system before adding other applications.
Make selections based on your skill level & system’s other configurations…and stick with your selection long enough to learn how it works and how to use it.
Generally speaking: as a system’s convenience, interactiveness, flexibility & complexity increase: security decreases.
Core defense applications might include (but not limited to):
Avast! (anti-virus);
Zone Alarm (firewall);
SpywareBlaster (snoopware prevention)
>>>The #1 defense against any malware: Use a “Limited User” account & Firefox, with ‘NoScript’ add-on, with “locked down” settings<<< and use a dual browser set up as I describe here: http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index;_ylt=AqPpmXeD_6Q2AV2ZZR8FtNEjzKIX;_ylv=3?qid=20090120115732AAl2h9c
The key element or common principal is to keep the bad guys (all of them) out of your system in the first place…it’s your system; you paid for it, so nobody but you should say what goes in.
Most novice users do not like hearing this, but nonetheless, it’s true: using Windows requires you to become a security expert, it’s that simple. Something they conveniently omit telling you when you buy this system…