Back in the days of dial-up internet, folks only got
viruses if they were visiting questionable websites. Then when broadband first came out, and DSL
was very popular, you could get a virus just by being online. Fast forward to today, when viruses aren’t
the only thing that we need to worry about.
Spyware, worms, trojans, and other types of malware such as ransomware,
and general password cracking are some of the dangers of the internet. We aren’t defenseless, there are things that
can be done to protect our digital assets.
Antivirus Software
This is the one of the most important tools to protect
our digital lives, and it’s very simple.
Thousands of antivirus software is available, ranging in price and
functionality. Some are subscription
based, some are free, and some include many other layers of protection such as
firewalls, and browser configuration locks.
AVG (http://www.avg.com) – Available in two flavors, free and Ultimate
($99.99/year for all personal devices), AVG has long been a leader in antivirus
technology. AVG can be installed on PC,
Mac, or mobile devices.
Sophos Home (https://home.sophos.com) – Also available for free or
Premium ($50/year), Sophos Home free provides:
real-time antivirus, parental web filtering, web protection from known
malicious sites, and remote management.
The Premium version includes: advanced real-time protection (PUA –
potentially unwanted apps), advanced ransomware protection, advanced web
protection, banking protection, privacy protection, advanced malware removal,
and support via email or chat, allowing protection on up to 10 devices.
Norton Security / Antivirus (http://www.norton.com/Norton_Security)
– Possibly one of the most commonly heard of solutions, because it has been
around for such a long time, Norton provides many different variations of their
security suite and different solutions.
The leader, Norton Security is available as Basic ($29.99/first year),
Standard ($39.99/first year), Deluxe ($49.99/first year), and Premium ($54.99/first
year) versions. Norton also offers WiFi
and VPN protection, and some products even come with LifeLock, an identity
theft protection service that among other things, monitors credit reports.
Firewalls
The basic premise of a firewall is to prevent
unauthorized access to a network. Many
of the antivirus solutions mentioned have firewalls built-in; however, there
are many other options.
Windows Firewall – Microsoft Windows comes pre-installed with a
firewall, in most cases you just need to turn it on. Here is a link on how to turn on the Windows
firewall: https://www.computerhope.com/issues/ch000551.htm.
ZoneAlarm Pro (https://www.zonealarm.com/software/firewall) –
Before firewalls were part of Windows or security suites, users had to install
firewalls that served one purpose, and the most popular was ZoneAlarm. Still available for $29.95 a year, ZoneAlarm
Pro is a software firewall with some added features monitoring for suspicious
behavior, guarding the operating system during start up, and providing an anti-phishing
browser extension.
Passwords
Changing your password is the first thing to do if you
feel your online account has been compromised.
Here are some basic tips to have a secure password.
·
Use longest length password or passphrase
allowed
·
Don’t use words found in a dictionary
·
Don’t use the same password for multiple systems
·
Don’t use passwords based on personal
information
·
Use numbers and special characters
There are numerous websites that will generate a random
password, Secure Password Generator is one:
https://passwordsgenerator.net,
plus there are websites that will test the strength of your password: https://howsecureismypassword.net
These are just a few simple things that can be done to
protect your digital assets. One of the
most important things to remember is DON’T OPEN ANY FILES OR EMAIL ATTACHMENTS
THAT YOU DON’T KNOW WHAT THEY ARE.
Good luck, and safe computing!
-Bradley Toy
