Protect Your PC

Securing Yourself
We believe that protecting your PC against outside threats is time and money well spent. You know the old saying, "Prevention is better than cure"!

  1. Step 1: Install antivirus software
    1. You should install the latest version of good anti-virus software if it isn't installed on your computer already.
    2. We recommend AVG Antivirus, because they're one of the best out there. They also have a free version if you want to try them first.
    3. After installing and correctly setting up your antivirus program, make sure you configure it to update its virus definitions regularly (see Step 2).
  2. Step 2: Use your anti-virus program correctly
    1. Ensure that your anti-virus software virus definition files are updated frequently (daily is ideal, but at the most, weekly), and ensure that your perform a regular complete virus scan of your system (no more than once a month).
    2. Be sure to move any infected files to the "virus vault" (that's what it's called in AVG). After scrutiny to make sure no innocent files were flagged, remove them from your system.
    3. Also configure your antivirus software to scan all incoming emails and to be "always on" (it should start with your system at boot time and do scans of new files in real time).
  3. Step 3: Install and use an internet and system firewall
    1. Install a good internet firewall, especially if you have an "always-on" internet connection. A firewall prevents rogue or malicious incoming and outgoing connections.
    2. If you have a broadband internet connection, you may already have a modem/router with a built-in hardware firewall. Be sure to activate and configure that.
    3. In addition, use a software firewall like the free Windows XP/Vista firewall. The Windows firewall is good for incoming traffic protection, but not so good protecting your system against unauthorized outgoing connections. The AVG Internet Security bundle is better, because it contains complete anti-virus, anti-spyware, anti-spam, web and firewall protection.
  4. Step 4: Stay up-to-date
    1. Make sure that you keep your PC (Windows, Mac) operating system updated with the latest security and other fixes, at least every month, to ensure that your PC is well-protected. You can normally configure your system for automatic updating (recommended).
    2. Also ensure your application software and internet browser is updated with the latest fixes regularly.
    3. But be careful of fake emails asking you to update your computer software by clicking on a link - these emails are trying to install viruses or other bad software on your system! Microsoft or Apple will never ask you to update your system this way - instead go to the official update website directly, or configure your computer to update automatically (even better).
  5. Step 5: Use your head
    1. Never, ever, open any file attachments or click links in emails from an unrecognized source - this could lead to a virus being implanted onto your PC or a phishing scam.
    2. As a matter of fact, be sure to scan all email attachments for viruses, whether from a trusted source or not. The sender's computer may have unwittingly picked up a virus and sent it to you.
    3. Watch out for emails that "pretend" to be from your bank, PayPal, etc. and ask you to click on a link in the email. NEVER do that! They may be trying to lure you into going to a website that imitates the real one, and so steal your personal information. This is called "phishing". Instead, go to the real website directly if you need to, by typing its website address (URL) directly into your browser (for example, www.paypal.com).
  6. Step 6: Stay informed
    Keep and eye and ear open for legitimate internet and computer security news and alerts - take preventative action where necessary. One way to do this is to bookmark our Security News page and check on it regularly.

Additional protection steps you should take are to Protect Your Privacy, Protect Your Internet and Protect Your Data.