Home Computer Protection Architecture

If you buy a computer, never load any additional programs on it or connect it to the Internet (through a modem or broadband), then this article is not for you.

Without sounding paranoid, there are other computer users who want to do damage to you. Safety begins with understanding every interaction with your computer, from the keyboard, to software installation, to network activity.

Understanding your Vulnerabilities References Digital Duo on Protecting Your PC Be aware of the Top 20 Most Critical Internet Security Vulnerabilities

Tip: Home Network Vulnerabilities 1. Spam 2. Cookies 3. Pop-Ups 4. Spyware/Adware 5. Additional Scams 6. How to Build It: Preventing Network Vulnerabilities 7. Turn on Spam Blocking at Your Service Provider 8. Set Up Spam Blocking on Your Home Computers 9. Avoid Phishing Scams 10. Set Up Spyware and Adware Blocking on Your Home Computers 11. Set Up Pop-Up Blocking on Home Computers 12. Where to Go for More Info

Protecting your Operating System

Protecting your File System: Anti-Virus

References

• Antivirus Software
• Antivirus Reviews

Free Software

• avast! 4 Home Edition
• AVG Free Edition
• AntiVir PersonalEdition Classic
• ClamWin (THE Open Source virus scanner)

Free Online Virus Scanners

• Trend Micro Housecall (Win, Linux, Solaris)
• Bitdefender (requires IE 4+)
• Panda Online Scanner (requires IE 5+)
• CA eTrust (requires IE 4+)
• F-Secure (requires IE 5+)
• Kaspersky (requires IE)
• PC Pitstop Anti-Virus (requires IE)
• McAfee FreeScan (requires IE 5.5+)

Protecting your Personal Information: Anti-Spyware

References 11 Signs of Spyware (03.02.04) Spyware Search Cnet Top 10 Antispyware Apps Free Software Ad-Aware SE SpywareBlaster

Tip: How to Avoid Spyware 1. antispyware software. 2. antispyware backup: firewalls 3. Limit peer-to-peer file-sharing services. 4. Remove cookies for unknown sites. 5. e-mail best practices. 6. know what you are installing and from whom 7. web browser best practices. 8. Read magazines/web sites to keep up to date on spyware.

Protecting Network Ports: Firewall What is a firewall? "A firewall is a hardware device or software program that stands between your computer and the internet so that it, not your computer, is directly exposed to the network. Like its namesake the cinderblock wall, it takes the heat when trouble comes. Firewalls differ in how they work and what they specifically do, but they all shield you. The best ones make you invisible to the internet while still leaving it accessible to you...All firewalls monitor network traffic across these ports. How and how well they do this defines the quality and usefulness of a given firewall." References TBD Free Software Comodo (recent PC Mag Editor's Choice) ZoneAlarm Sunbelt Kerio Personal Firewall

Tip: Hardware-based Firewall Note that hardware-based routers, such as a wireless router used in your home, offer built-in firewall protection at the source of your internet connection.

Protecting your Wireless Connection

Tip: Securing your WLAN Countermeasure 1: Change Your Default Settings Countermeasure 2: Upgrade Your Firmware, and maybe Hardware Countermeasure 3: Disable SSID broadcast Countermeasure 4: Turn it off! Countermeasure 5: MAC Address Filtering Countermeasure 6: Lower the transmit power Countermeasure 7: Encryption Countermeasure 8: Add Authentication Countermeasure 9: Implement general LAN security

Security Tests: see how secure you actually are

References

• Symantec Security Check (Win and Mac)
• EICAR: Test your virus scanner

Recommendation: Buy an "all-in-one" Software Security Product

Optimize performance on your system and minimize your cost: buy a suite of security products from the same vendor. Every program/background process running on your computer diminishes the overall processing power of your computer. Look for best performance and lowest cost. References All-in-One Security (July 2006) Free Software Cyberhawk Low-Cost Software Tek-Tips Microsoft Antispyware (free) On demand scanners are Ewido (free)

Tip: 10 Tips for Running Security Suites 1. Trash your old security software 2. Check your hard drive's health 3. Freshen up Windows 4. Make an ID card 5. Run an extra antispyware app 6. Stay networked 7. Handle printing and file sharing 8. Document your woes 9. Send away your bad stuff 10. Keep your subscription current