Four Things You Should Do to Your Computer Today

Don YarmanOLC IT DivisionOLC Chapter ConferencesSpring 2007

The Four Things

1. Automatic Updates2. Firewall3. Anti-Virus

Plus: A little discussion of spam & phishing filters

That’s all I’m saying; you may go about your business.If you need to know more or want to argue, please stay.

My Objectives

Doing anything is better than doing nothing. My recommendations may not be the absolute

“best” thing you can do -- that’s a moving target anyway.

I’ll present a baseline of what you must do, some recommendations of how to do it, and we’ll discuss what you can do above and beyond the minimum.

Credit where it’s due

OPLINTECH list, 30 June 2004“How to keep your PC spyware and malware free for nothing!”Jim Kenzig, Cuyahoga County PLhttp://www.thinworkplace.com/article_read.asp?id=62

WindowsSecrets.com “Security Baseline”http://windowssecrets.com/reviews/security-baseline/

What I’m talking about

Personal computers (at home or library)

Windows operating system (esp. XP)

Any Internet connection (esp. broadband)

1. Enable Automatic Updates

Latest service packs and hotfixes To enable:

Go to your Control Panel (Start>Settings>) Automatic Updates or Security Center Second or Third radio button

Second option? You have to install Third button not good choice if you don’t have

broadband at home

Older PC without Automatic Updates

You can try updating manually http://update.microsoft.com , but Microsoft no longer supports Windows 98

WARNING:New Microsoft Update includes Office(Do you know where your Office disks are?)

2. Install a good firewall

Enable Windows Firewall.

[Automatically enabled in Service Pack 2]

Directions on Microsoft sitehttp://tinyurl.com/hyenk

Not Windows XP?

Obtain good software or purchase router with a hardware firewall

Norton Internet Security 2007(PC Mag Editor’s choice)

WindowsSecrets.com recommends Linksys hardware firewalls and ZoneAlarm Internet Security Suitehttp://www.zonelabs.com

With software firewalls, the first time that you run any program that tries to access the Internet, a pop-up will ask if you want to allow it. (You will be amazed).

3. Maintain Antivirus

No excuses. Review leaders: ConsumerSearch.com says

“Scot’s Newsletter, WebUser.com, CNet.com” Best: Kaspersky (compatibility conflicts)

NOD32 (usability complaints) Worst: McAfee and Grisoft AVG; Norton mixed Free: AOL Active Virus Shield

http://www.activevirusshield.comGrisoft AVG Free editionhttp://free.grisoft.com

Spend the money. Update definitions daily.

Most programs are recommended by someone

WindowSecrets.com Security Baseline

1. Hardware FirewallLinksys Wireless-G WRT54GL

2. Security SuiteZoneAlarm Internet Security Suite

3. Antispyware ProgramWebroot Spy Sweeper

4. Update ManagementWindows Automatic Update

3.5. Remove Ad/Spyware

Best: SpyWare Sweeperhttp://www.webroot.com/

Runner Up: Spyware Doctorhttp://www.pctools.com/spyware-doctor/

Free: Microsoft Windows Defender http://www.windowsdefender.comAd-Aware SE Personalhttp://www.lavasoft.com

ConsumerSearch again

Spam & Phishing

Bad News: Spamming has grown beyond exponentially “Phishing” has become a severe problem

Good News: Browsers, email clients, and anti-virus

software are now more holistic, and protection measures overlap.

Bottom line:Updates Updates Updates

Critical updates to your operating system

Access updates in your firewall rules

Definition updates for your antivirus

Other things that help

Spam management Yarmando loves Gmail

Pop-up blockers AdBlock and FlashBlock

Get off the bandwagon Use Firefox (Thunderbird is nice too)

Questions?

OPLINTECH listhttp://mail.oplin.org/mailman/listinfo/oplintechThe unofficial member list of the OLC IT division

This presentation is available online at www.oplin.org/presentations/fourthings.ppt