The most basic computer security tips

Here are some basic tips on computer security for your system, your sensitive information and your data remains free of infection. From the obvious, to the most complex, recommendations on how to protect ourselves, more as bellicose as the internet are very useful. If you practice, the chances of infection will drop considerably.

While these basic computer security tips are aimed at less experienced Windows user and public -of the system to be used by most new computer users and the most affected by viruses and threats-, the rules can be transferred to other operating systems and each computer we want to carry out operations without compromising our data and system. That said; let’s see what you’re doing wrong for your safety and how you can fix it.

1. Beware of attachments in your mail

If you do not know, do not open it. With that line of logic, you should stay safe for long emails or have strange directions as pps attachments, zip, exe, etc. As much as you are not having a good time, and the invitation to take charge of miracle pills seem tempting… Is it worth the risk? Even when a mail attachment that you were not expecting it sends an acquaintance, it is best to ask if by any means you had sent to be a little safer. A software level, what you can do is email scanning by your antivirus or antimalware favorite application. Distrust, short of paranoia is a good tool to avoid falling under the yoke of the threats.

2. Upgrade the software on your system periodically

Newer, tougher. This should be a truth perogullo, it is as simple as thinking “if I use an application that is outdated three months ago, took three months vulnerabilities unresolved above”, which will make you more likely to get malware system. The reluctance to upgrade the software (including operating system) is due to costs, laziness and also, crucially, to oblivion. So it’s good to have some applications that check for updates for the software you have installed and recommend us download. Updating software does not mean that other holes may not come with the new version, but it is less common than the previous case. And in the case of operating systems for Windows XP and 7 is illustrative for others.

3. Create better passwords and change them every six months

It is more difficult, less predictability. First and forced place is in your text field: “enter a new password”. It is to appeal to the same password for years for all services to which you are subscribed is actually a risk, because if you find one; discover all. So it is best to create passwords for service or service by gender, in addition to a password manager, forget about “remember password” in public places and use application to create encrypted keys that neither the MIT nerd could guess without take you all your life.

4. Use antivirus and anti-malware applications

We do not want heroes: Antivirus uses. The antivirus can cost you money or not but agree that uses system resources that could give you some headache. But weighing the risks, an active antivirus is always more effective and safer than a computer without it. For in the latter case the system depends heavily on your care, and if you ever fail, you forget or someone uses your system goodbye. There antivirus everywhere and offer different performances according to cost and use as RAM. Choose the one that suits you. Same with the anti-malware, Spybot Search and Destroy and MalwareBytes applications are the dynamic duo that comes to the rescue at the sign in the sky that’s been three days since the last scan.

5. Used to close the session at the end

An input window is also an output window. Humans are curious by nature, and when he sees something that is not yours made available, it is likely that at least curiosity, make use of the gift of becoming. This usually happens at Internet cafes, offices and work everywhere where computers are shared. If you open Facebook, Gmail or any other service, get used to close the session before getting up from your chair to leave. With this you will avoid entering the immense rate users who lose their data leave open sessions there. A good exercise to generate the habit is to do at home too, whenever you wake up the computer; logs.

6. Avoid operations in open and public networks

Share the connection, but not the data. One of the most complicated issues for many tourists is found on vacation and having to make bank transactions from the open network of your hotel or from some place open networks. This means comfort, but also possibilities for the shape and sniffing copper assault us, social, bank accounts, email, etc. in the blink of an eye. To avoid this you should avoid connect, and that’s like saying that cuts the light in your home so you never electrocutes you. Therefore, it is best to use alternative means such as VPN or servers, more accessible, extensions like Blacksheep, access only HTTPS sites and have the firewall at full attention.

7. Enable Firewall on your system

The Great Wall of China was not built for decoration. This phrase should be an invitation we care more without putting so many quirks when it comes to be a bit curtailed at our convenience. A Firewall can be configured entirely to the annoyance of your presence will prove comforting protection level, you can modify the priority system, add exceptions and if you’re on Windows, use alternative applications that give you even more possibilities.

8. Prevents software from recurrent associations to conditions

CanciónMuyLinda.exe is not an MP3: due to the number of scams that exist in relation to web services, apps and what is happens them, have a clear idea of what programs do not contribute to your computer make a shelter of viruses and malware, is a much complex. We therefore propose a return to the classics and their alternatives. But you can not ignore innovation, it is good to have a reference website to clean your doubts about the legitimacy of software, because while many programs promise to remove malware, they themselves are reported as infections, also pollute your system to sell the solution.

9. Disconnect from the Internet when not need

Lower exposure, lower infection rate: There are exceptions in droves, but the largest number of infections occurs when computers are connected to the network, as spyware and malware make their actions by communicating with servers or sending information using open ports on your connection. So if you want to lower the rate of possible infection and use the computer too long without a network connection (games, design, writing, etc) or if you’re going to sleep or directly going to be absent disconnecting internet you avoid something happening to your system without shutting down. It is simple, but 100% effective.

10. Back up

Better safe than sorry: For be a situation where you lose data due to lack of security policies on your computer, not to accomplish anything of all that we have told above, the most common situation is desperate. But be important backups or backups, when everyone would be being flooded in tears, which did the job and you backed up your data will take it as a experience. No VPN, antivirus, paranoia I beat up the security provided by the existence of the data to another disk or cloud services. As for software, we made a recommendation of 6 applications to back up your data, choose the one you like and quiet feel doing a backup every certain period of time. You can also back up your email or other social services.