India Broadband Forum

itsmemad

Everyone knows that one should use good anti-virus, firewall, anti-spyware to protect your computer... But there are some important measures that you can take yourself to minimize the risks... I'll share few easy tips which are not so common in beefing up security here...

1. The single biggest step you can take for security is to avoid going online as an administrator... Set up an administrator account for administrating the computer and then demote your normal account to limited user... Over 75% of malware can't function in a limited user account...

2. Use an online email, or use the webmail version of your current one, and remove suspicious email at source...

3. Turn your email client to text only...

4. Turn off all automatic updates and manage them manually...

5. Turn off messenger (this is different from MSN messenger)
start-->run-->Type services.msc
scroll down to messenger in the right hand pane, right click on it--> click properties-->>choose disabled..
(You don't need this unless you are on a network, but it provides a route in for hackers)

6. Disable remote administration
Start-->run-->Type sysdm.cpl
remote tab-->uncheck enable remote assistance...
(You don't need this unless you are on a network, but it provides a route in for hackers)

7. Make sure atleast Windows XP Service Pack 2 (SP 2) is installed...

8. Put a password on your user account...

9. Make two folders with names of autorun.inf & rqq2v.bat in each of ur drives... malicious code with these names are rampant on internet.... they try to automatically write their files with these names on ur harddrive... By making two dummy folders with these names u r actually outsmarting them from writing anything on ur computer... if u want.. u can hide these folders...

10. Install security and critical Windows XP updates from Microsoft Windows Update... In Internet Explorer, go to the Tools menu > Windows Updates to go to the update site. Follow the instructions to let Microsoft scan your computer for the updates you need to install.

P.S. - Rep me if u liked few points here...