How to lock down your new computer

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So you have a new computer straight out of the box and you can’t wait to get online. I would think twice about it. It is a fact that it could take as little as 30 seconds for your new computer to end up with a virus or worm if it is unprotected.

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Instructions

Difficulty: Moderate

Things You’ll Need:

Firewall
Anti-virus
Anti-spyware
Updates

Step1

First turn on your firewall. Some operating systems have this option on by default but it is always good to double check. From your start menu choose Control Panel then Security Center and finally Windows Firewall. Make sure the radio button for ON is lit up and click ok.

Step2

Another key to this is to keep your computer updated. Windows comes out with updates that allow you to avoid some security threats all together. You can find these updates at www.windowsupdate.com At the very least install the critical updates for your operating system.

Step3

At this point you should install some type of anti-virus software, I use AVG. It is free software for personal use and does not use up lots of memory like Norton. You can find it for download at many places but I suggest free.grisoft.com/doc/2/lng/us/tpl/v5 for a good virus free download.

Step4

Other options that you have are installing a new firewall that protects and covers more then the Windows Firewall does. Zone alarm is a good option. There are many to choose from so be sure to look around for the one with the best options for you. You will have to turn off your Windows Firewall to install another or they may conflict with each other.

Step5

You can also use anti-spyware programs that run scans on your computer for spyware that might have made it past. I like the Adaware program which is also free for personal use. There are other options from Spybot that will clean in addition to the Adaware program. At this point it depends on what your surfing habits are like. If you like to jump around to a whole lot of sites including online shopping then both these programs are a must.

Step6

The most important part of this protection is to keep it all up to date. Some of the programs will update automatically or give you the option before each scan. Check back to the websites often to ensure that you have the most update patches and definitions for your protection programs.

Tips & Warnings

UPDATE
UPDATE
UPDATES are a must!
You will have to turn off your Windows Firewall to install another or they may conflict with each other.

Comments

cahuenga1 said

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on 4/3/2008 Hey, Chris from ZoneAlarm here with an update on what's new:
Great to see you're talking about ZoneAlarm. Just a heads up if you decide to buy a ZoneAlarm product - we have a $20 off coupon right now on the ZoneAlarm Security Suite and a new PC Invaders game where you can test your knowledge of internet security and win cash, Visa giftcards, or an Xbox 360.
Check it out at http://sweeps.zonealarm.com/

Karenc1972 said

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on 1/20/2008 Great article, Grouch - especially the emphasis on updates! Far too often people (including me in the past) have thought they were safe skipping updates or even scans only to end up with a PC that is riddled with a virus or worm. Thanks for the tips!

MidniteWriter said

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on 1/4/2008 This is so true!! My clients do not realize that "new" does not equal "safe!" Thanks for sharing this valuable info. I think people will really get a lot out of it so they won't have to call me to help them out! (I am a computer tech!) Thanks Grouch!

PopArtDiva said

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on 1/4/2008 I just said all the same things in my baby boomer divas group on yahoo! Good article and one more people should listen to!!

bfreethree said

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on 1/4/2008 You've done this before haven't you? My sister and I unfortunately crashed many a computer before we learned about these important rules and tools for locking them down. Great job you have saved a large number of computers from crashing and burning.

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