Computer Safety Tips | Life Elephant

*Presented by Techlicious.com Contributors*

Security isn?t just an issue for Windows PCs. Smartphones, tablets and Macs are also vulnerable to attack, which means you should have security protection on every Internet-connected device you own.

Even though cyber criminals, malware creators and scammers are serious about wreaking havoc with your computers and devices, the good news is there is an abundance of excellent security solutions available. The best of this year?s crop of security software goes beyond the basics, helping you avoid bad links on social networking sites, keeping your kids safe with more parental controls and providing more coverage for your mobile devices.

There are three basic components necessary to any comprehensive security setup?anti-virus, firewall, and anti-malware (including spyware).

Anti-virus software is often the center-piece of any security suite. Good anti-virus software will run regular scans to see if any viruses have loaded themselves on your computer, and they?ll provide active protection by checking each and every file as you download or open it. All quality packages will also monitor programs for suspicious behavior in order to block potential threats, even those that have yet to been confirmed as viruses.

A firewall is a filter that controls the flow of data to and from your PC and the Internet. It is able to block hackers from breaking into your PC and stop rogue programs from reaching out to their creators and handing over your personal information or downloading more malware.

There are plenty of threats out there that don?t fall under the guise of viruses and other infections normally caught by anti-virus software. These invaders, which go by various names including spyware or adware, used to need their own dedicated tool to root them out, but these capabilities are being folded into traditional anti-virus tools. Unlike viruses, spyware and its companions primarily use your browser as the entry point and are often used to steal passwords and credit card information, or serve up endless streams of annoying pop-up ads. While most security suites include malware protection, stand-alone tools, such as Ad-Aware and Malwarebytes Anti-Malware, offer excellent protection as well.

Do You Need Security Software if You Own a Mac?

Short answer?yes. While Apple (and its acolytes) like to extol the virtues of living in a virus and spyware free universe thanks to OS X, the truth is Macs aren?t invincible. While there are still far fewer threats out there targeting Apple users, they do exist. And as OS X becomes more popular, the amount of malware is growing to prey upon complacent users.

Also, many security threats are caused by ?phishing? for personal information through email and bogus websites. Security software suites have features that identify potentially dangerous sites before you enter personal information.

Why You Should Use a Non-Administrator (vs. Administrator) Account

Windows computers create all new user accounts as ?normal? users instead of administrators. Normal users can install software and make changes to settings, but they must confirm the changes by clicking through a prompt that is isolated from other programs and therefore cannot be manipulated by malware.

OS X and Linux user accounts are, by default, created as non-administrators. The administrator account, known as Root, is actually turned off in OS X. Instead these operating systems rely on temporarily granting administrative privileges on a per-use basis.

Regardless of what operating system you run though, you should never do your day-to-day computing from an administrator account.

What?s the Difference Between Free and Paid Security Software?

There are, of course, free software packages that provide essential security tools such as anti-virus, anti-malware, and firewall, such as Microsoft Security Essentials and Comodo Firewall. The problem is that no one offers all those tools together in one easy-to-use package without charging you an annual subscription fee. So, while you could cobble together a decent defense for free, it?s often faster and easier to pay for one of the many commercial suites of Internet security software.

In addition to the simplicity of having all the various pieces of security software integrated, for-pay products tend to have advanced features, such as parental controls, password safes, or file encryption, that aren?t essential but can enhance the security of your PC.

Using a combination of free apps (or a mix of free and commercial software) does have its perks however. The integrated suites can be vulnerable to viruses and attacks that can shut down all your computer?s defenses in one shot?something much more difficult to accomplish with separate security programs.

Unfortunately some free programs will try to install unnecessary browser toolbars (which you can opt out of during installation), and many free versions of apps will repeatedly ask you to upgrade to the paid versions.

Do You Need Parental Controls?

Both Windows and OS X have built in parental control features, but they?re very basic. The controls built into security suites tend to be much more robust and customizable. You can block certain programs from running during particular times of the day, or to run only for a set amount of time. You can also quickly block or unblock Web sites as the need arises in a much simpler fashion than the built-in features of your OS. Many security suites also monitor what children are doing on social networks and with whom they?re interacting.

Don?t Get Fooled into Buying Rogue Security Software

Rogue security applications masquerade as real virus or spyware-protection programs for the sole purpose of separating you from your money. At best, the programs do nothing; you simply lose however much money you paid for what is, essentially, worthless junk. At worst, these programs can track your keystrokes and steal your personal information from your PC.

Perpetrators of rogue security software scams?use a wide variety of methods to fool potential victims. One very common method is to pop up a flashing or other frightening message when you visit a website that tells you ?Your PC is infected with a virus. Click here to fix.?

If you click on the ad, you may be authorizing it to download the malicious software to your computer and, once installed, you will keep getting messages about viruses, spyware, etc. on your PC that can only by fixed by buying the ?premium? version of the product. Of course, there are no viruses on your PC except for the rogue security program itself.

You Are Your Own Best Defense

All the security software in world can?t save you from poor judgment. The Web is littered with threats that?count on people who are na?ve or careless?don?t be one of them. In fact, good browsing habits are your best defense against malicious code sneaking past your security suite.

This means not logging into online banking sites or shopping while using public Wi-Fi networks, being suspicious of things like Facebook apps (especially those that promise free goods for filling out surveys) and only downloading files from trusted sources.

Also don?t trust an email from a financial institution that asks for your password, bank account number, credit card number or other sensitive information?bad guys can be very good at creating emails with links to websites that look just like Citibank or PayPal. And remember, if it?s too good to be true, it?s a scam, like this one: ?my roomates [sic] aunt makes $83/hr on the laptop. She has been without work for 8 months but last month her pay was $8682 just working on the laptop for a few hours. Read more on this site [URL].? It?s a lie.

More on Public Wi-Fi

Whether it?s at the airport, a coffee shop or hotel room, chances are there?s access to free Wi-Fi. According to recent studies by the Internet security company Norton, 44 percent of us jump onto these free networks to check email, 42 percent post updates to Facebook and other social networking sites and 16 percent access our bank accounts.

The issue with these free Wi-Fi hotspots is that anyone on the network can see the data your computer or mobile device sends across the Internet, whether that?s a request to see a news article on Techlicious or your Facebook News Stream, if you don?t have a secure HTTPS connection. (You can easily see if you have a secure connection by checking your browser?s address bar). This issue got a lot of attention last year when many Facebook and other accounts were hijacked on public networks with a simple Firefox browser add-on called?Firesheep.?Even if you do have an HTTPS connection, people can see where you?re going.

Fortunately, it?s easy to create a secure connection on public Wi-Fi by using Virtual Private Network (VPN) software. Essentially, VPN software encrypts your data, creating a secure tunnel between your computer or mobile device and the VPN server. The VPN server then forwards your information to the site you?re accessing. So no one on your network can see where you are going or what data you?re sending and the website you?re visiting won?t see where you?re coming from.

?*This article is comprised of original posts in October 2012 by Christina DesMarais and Suzanne Kantra on Techlicious.com.? Suzanne Kantra is Co-Founder and Editor-in-Chief.? For more great technology advice, sign up?for Suzanne?s free daily newsletter.?

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Source: http://www.lifeelephant.com/info-inspirations/computer-safety-tips-life-elephant/

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