Top tips for IT security

Although most of the information stored on our computers is of no imaginable use to anyone other than ourselves, it only takes a couple of news stories about hackers infiltrating the World Economic Forum and accessing the credit card details of Bill Gates or viruses hidden within emails about Anna Kournikova to remind us how devastating it would be have our computer stored information stolen or corrupted. But there are simple steps we can take towards protecting our PC from these kinds of attacks. Here are a few key ways to improve your computer security...

The cost of protecting your data and computer systems will always be a good investment compared to the cost associated with losing critical data or experiencing computer downtime.

For a solid security foundation you must follow steps 1-7 without exception. Steps 8 onwards are really the icing on the cake and provide more specific advice depending upon your circumstances.

1. Don't be so obvious
We all have problems remembering all the passwords we need to set, but don’t use the same password for everything, and try not to be too obvious. Names, and words which appear on or near your PC and the classic QWERTY will be the first passwords a thief or hacker tries, so try to use passwords no-one else would think of. Combinations of letters and numbers are the most secure. And don’t write them down and keep them in the top drawer of your filing cabinet. If you absolutely must write them down make sure you write them in something you always keep with you, like your mobile phone or personal diary. And if you still have trouble remembering your passwords maybe you should try working on improving your memory.

2. Update your software
If you are using any standard software such as Microsoft Windows it is advisable to look for software updates on a regular basis from the software providers websites. These software updates patch existing faults with your software. This is an ongoing way to address the risk that your software may have a fault which results in loss of data and the risk that there are security holes in the software that hackers or viruses will attempt to exploit.

3. Get vaccinated
Invest in some anti-virus software. Software packages can be bought at a reasonable price and, with updates released on the Web everytime a new virus is developed, it is a worthwhile investment.

4. Back-up, back-up, back-up
The only sure-fire way of protecting your data from sabotage, theft or fire is to back it up. For insurance purposes it is recommended that you back-up all data regularly and store it off site (in case of fire or flooding). This can be done by either copying onto a floppy disc and removing the disk from the premises or, or you could use a data back-up service provider.
You can even back-up the information you hold on your website to a remote server but if you want to do this then you should check with your domain supplier first as the security of the folder depends on the individual settings.

5. Watch your mail
Be careful when opening emails. Never open an email from someone you don’t know. The most catastrophic viruses are often spread via email. If you are worried you have received an email which contains a virus, click delete and empty your deleted items or trash folder immediately.

6. Explore with caution
When surfing the web, make the most of the security functions available with Internet Explorer. These can be set at 4 levels, can change according to the type of site, and can be used to restrict specific high-risk sites.
To change your security settings click Tools>Internet Options>Security. We also recommend switching off the auto complete function in Explorer especially if you shop online, failure to do this amounts to an open invitation for online credit card fraudsters.

7. Build a firewall
Nothing to do with dungeons and dragons, this software actually runs in the background while your computer is in use, protecting your data like a metaphorical wall of fire, preventing hackers from accessing your files.

8. Public enemy no 1
Be careful when using public computers, and if you can help it try not to do anything that may involve you typing in your logins or disclosing your credit card details. Public computers are the most likely to have a hidden Trojan horse program inside which may steal your passwords and pass them onto a hacker.

9. Password power
If you have Windows NT, partition the hard drive to allow other people to log on and use your PC without giving them access to your private section of the hard-drive, unless they have the password. If you are using an older version of Windows, set a power-on password, preventing your PC from even being turned on without the correct password. This can be done through the BIOS.

10. Get with the times
The latest versions of Windows (NT, 2000 & XP) have a variety of local file security features. If already use one of these, make sure you make the most these features. If you don’t and you are storing highly sensitive information on your hard-drive, you had better think about upgrading, as the security features of Windows 95 and 98 are almost non-existent compared to the new versions.

11. Make the most of what you've got
Even if you are using one of the older versions of Windows there are things you can do to improve the security of your data. Try to avoid storing important documents on your desktop. It may seem frustrating to open folder after folder in order to find the file you want, but a complicated computer filing system acts both as a deterrent and a security system against hackers. Alternatively you can protect important files by assigning passwords or hiding them

12. Search and destroy
You may have hidden Spyware or Adware programs running on your machine without you even knowing about them– although generally they ask your permission before they install themselves.

These software programs communicate information about your system and online habits to advertising or sales companies when you download an application or utility for free. They then build a database about you and other users which allows them to deliver ads that are in tune with surfers interests. If you are concerned about the misuse of data or just annoyed by spam mail and want to rid your PC of spyware programs then contact us.

13. Rewrite history
You should wipe your history files on a regular basis. This doesn’t mean just deleting them, it means using a specific wiping program. Files to wipe should include cookies, internet history, temporary files, logs, outdated personal files.

14. Be en-cryptic
Encryption software saves important files and data in a coded format, only allowing them to be decoded when the correct password is entered. Windows 2000 has this facility built-in, but you can also buy encryption software from most suppliers.

15. Don’t be afraid – you are not alone
There is no need to panic about IT security. While it is vitally important in today’s techno world it is easy to set up a security system, and there are plenty of programs and organisations out there to help you. If you are not sure about something or really don’t understand then find out. And if it means paying for the services of an IT consultant then it may turn out to be a worthy investment.

© 2006 M&M Computing Services Ltd.