Keep your computer safe from the internet Continued...

You can secure these old versions of Windows but you need to take great care. Use Mozilla Firefox for your internet browser, AVG antivirus and make sure you have a hardware firewall –see below. Doing online financial transaction with this old software would be very risky.
Fortunately modern powerful Windows 7 computers can be had for as little as £250. You would need to pay more to use programmes like video editing, speech recognition and desktop publishing, but otherwise you can manage very well with the cheaper product.
If you are using a modern computer, with Windows XP, Vista or 7, you need to check that ‘automatic updates’ and your ‘firewall’ are both on. With Windows XP you need to check that ‘Service Pack 3’ is installed. There is a free antivirus/antispyware programme called ‘Microsoft Security Essentials’ which is better than most paid for antivirus programmes, if only because so many people are reluctant to pay annual renewal fees. Updates are issued on ‘Patch Tuesday’ the second Tuesday each month. A ‘malicious software removal’ tool is included in the download. It runs automatically and is useful back up to your antivirus programme.
Do not use two software firewalls or two antivirus programmes, or your computer will get messed up. Now check Internet Explorer – you should be using version 8 (look in Help about) as older versions are now insecure. Version 8 is good.

A couple of other programmes are very useful. ‘Secunia Software Inspector’ will make sure every programme on your computer has all the latest security updates. If you do financial transactions on the internet a programme called ‘Trusteer Rapport’ will complement your computer security by providing specific high level protection for financial transactions.

Use the built in security features Understand ‘User Accounts’. You should have one account for installing and removing programmes. This account is set as an ‘administrator’. The accounts you use for general computer use should be set as ‘standard’. Then if a virus gets through while you are playing solitaire or doing the CHA accounts, the virus will have to ask your permission to do its evils deeds. You can say no.

Look in Control Panel ‘Action Centre’ (Windows 7) or Security Centre (Windows XP and Vista) to check all your settings are safe. Windows 7 and Vista usually nag if your security settings are wrong.

Back up your data regularly. If anything goes wrong hard disc fails, or you get a bad virus attack, then you can soon be back to where you wanted to be.
Finally, try to find out if your internet box provides a hardware firewall. If not, it is worth paying around £15 for a router which will have a hardware firewall. If you have a hardware firewall you can safely turn off your antivirus and User Account Control for a few minutes while installing new software – but remember to turn them back on again!
Page Three