| Before you begin reading this article, there is something | | | | to current patch levels. Most security experts share |
| that it is critical to understand. Simply put, there is no | | | | the opinion that almost all network-based security |
| such thing as a completely secure web browser or | | | | attacks would stop if users kept their computers up to |
| operating system. While any of the major security | | | | date with patches and current security fixes. Almost all |
| suites and associated products will greatly reduce your | | | | of us forget to do this regularly. New Trojans, worms, |
| exposure to security risks, they are not silver bullets | | | | and viruses are being distributed and created every |
| that will stop everything that may come your way. | | | | day. Almost all of them are trying to exploit |
| Any product that claims to eliminate 100 percent of | | | | newly-discovered weaknesses in operating systems |
| your security risks should be looked at very | | | | and applications.5. Backup backup backup! It can't be |
| carefully.Now that we have the ground rule out of the | | | | said enough that it is vitally important to keep regular |
| way, let's consider security suites and computer | | | | backups of any and all important data. Even if your |
| security. There are a variety of means by which the | | | | system is kept secure from worms, viruses, and |
| security of a computer can be breached. Among the | | | | Trojans, it is still vulnerable to fire, theft, flooding, |
| most common threats are crackers, phishing, Trojans, | | | | hardware failure, and any number of other things that |
| viruses, and worms. Potential security risks can also be | | | | can destroy your most valuable data. Given the ease |
| introduced through spyware, malware, or email | | | | and availability of CD and DVD burners, there are no |
| attachments, and something called port | | | | excuses for not keeping your data backed up.For |
| scanning.Dshield.org, a Florida-based non-profit | | | | most people, enabling auto-updates, using safe email |
| company, provides "platform for users of firewalls to | | | | practices, and using a password-protected |
| share intrusion information". What they do is work with | | | | screensaver provides adequate security. If you would |
| software vendors to allow for a common reporting | | | | rather take some additional measures to improve the |
| platform of port scanning activity detected by | | | | security of your computer, you should consider |
| software. Port scanning is when software scans | | | | purchasing a comprehensive security suite.While there |
| another computer system looking for open ports to | | | | are many packages out there, you should start with |
| connect to. Port scanning is often a prelude to other | | | | asking yourself some basic questions: Are you the |
| types of attacks, and is used by many viruses and | | | | only user, or are there multiple users? If there are |
| worms to propagate themselves.Among the more | | | | multiple users, are any of them children? Do you need |
| interesting items reported by DShield is the "survival | | | | to password-protect individual files, your desktop, or |
| time". What this means is how long an unpatched | | | | someone's internet access? How much are you willing |
| computer will be able to "survive" online before being | | | | to spend? What kind of system are you running?Once |
| attacked. Over the course of the past year, the | | | | you are able to answer those questions, you can begin |
| survival time for an unpatched Windows system is | | | | to research which of the available security suites is |
| approximately 100 minutes. If you have an unpatched | | | | best able to meet your needs. Consumer Reports, |
| Windows system, you can expect it to be attacked in | | | | ZDNet.com, and PC Magazine are just a few of the |
| about an hour an a half. Clearly, you need to take | | | | very informative websites available that offer |
| matters into your own hands to protect the security of | | | | information and insight into security suites.There are |
| your computer systems.There are some simple steps | | | | many different security suites available today. Be sure |
| you can take to quickly and easily protect your | | | | to conduct your research carefully to find the one that |
| computer.1. Never run unfamiliar programs on your | | | | best meets your needs. Listed below are some of the |
| computer. While it may seem to be common sense, | | | | more popular choices, along with what PC World had |
| many of the most widely-spread attacks have | | | | to say about them.1. Symantec Norton Internet |
| involved spyware and email attachment worms. The | | | | Security 2006. Symantec's suite produced top-tier |
| rule is simple: Don't open the attachment if you don't | | | | malware detection and cleanup scores, but it would |
| recognize the sender.2. Never allow others to have | | | | benefit from a more streamlined interface and fewer |
| unmoderated physical access to your computer. If you | | | | pop-up alerts.2. McAfee Internet Security Suite 2006. |
| have sensitive or confidential information on your | | | | The excellent malware detection and cleanup scores |
| computer, if you allow others physical access to the | | | | of McAfee's full-featured suite make up for its terrible |
| system, they may either inadvertently or intentionally | | | | installation routine.3. Panda Platinum 2006 Internet |
| breach the security of the computer.3. Always use | | | | Security. Panda has superior heuristics, a top-notch |
| strong passwords. Be sure none of your passwords | | | | firewall, and speedy on-demand scanning, but its |
| are easy to guess. Many people use the names of | | | | interface needs better organization.4. F-Secure Internet |
| pets or children, or anniversaries or birthdays. Given | | | | Security 2006. This suite's five scanning |
| how many passwords seem to be needed, another | | | | engines--including one for rootkits--produced excellent |
| common mistake is for someone to use the same | | | | malware detection scores but the slowest scan |
| password for everything from their picture-sharing | | | | speed.5. Trend Micro PC-cillin Internet Security 2006. |
| website to their online brokerage. By using only one | | | | Trend Micro's interface, speed, and features (including |
| password, if one system is compromised, all systems | | | | an antiphishing toolbar) were better than its malware |
| you have access to can be compromised. Also, if you | | | | detection scores.Mike Tetreault is an accomplished |
| absolutely must write your password down, never | | | | developer and systems architect. He is also the |
| leave it attached to the computer. I recently saw the | | | | managing principal of Macrocosmic Technologies and |
| proprietor of a small business peering under her | | | | its PrivacyOnTheGo product line which offers a |
| keyboard to login to her computer.4. Be sure to keep | | | | solution to the security and privacy issues faced by |
| your operating system and all installed applications up | | | | people who use multiple or public computers. |