How to Stop a Computer Hijacker

Strong passwords are just one way to stop computer hijackers in their tracks.

There are serious threats to the security of your computer and the personal information it contains lurking in every corner of the web. Email, website advertisements, fake "anti-virus" warnings--all of these things are tools that the savvy hacker uses to compromise your system and your identity. Locking your computer down is an important and necessary step you must take to protect your information.

Things You'll Need

• Internet access
• Spyware software
• Malware software
• Wireless router
• Anti-Virus software

Instructions

1. Use strong passwords. This means avoiding obvious personal information (e.g., your birthday or the name of your spouse or child), any word found in a dictionary or common "quickie" passwords such as "admin" or "1234." A strong password should have both capital and lowercase letters, a few numbers, and at least one symbol. For instance, if your password is"Ad8ail#$" it will be much harder to crack than "Sam."

2. Install an anti-virus software suite and set it to automatically scan your computer. In many cyber-attack scenarios, your anti-virus is your first line of defense. Additionally, install spyware and malware detectors to strengthen your overall security--these programs can catch things an anti-virus program may miss.

3. Surf smart. Many hackers depend on the trust of others to acquire their information. Never enter your personal information on a website that you are not 100 percent certain is trustworthy, and never respond to email from unfamiliar people requesting information. Email scams in particular play on current events such as holidays or disasters in the hope of scoring your personal data.

4. Scan email attachments. No matter where you think an email came from, never download any attachments to your computer without running an anti-virus scan over them. Corrupt attachments forwarded from one user to another can cause widespread damage in a short period of time.

5. Password-protect your wireless connection. An unsecured wireless network can be accessed by anyone within range; so can the information that travels through it. Most wireless routers have the ability to produce an encrypted security key; use this to ensure that only members of your household can access your network.

Tips & Warnings

• If you find that your computer has been compromised, disconnect it from your network immediately and attempt to solve the problem using your anti-virus software. If you are unable to remove the virus, take the computer to an expert to have it taken care of. While this may be expensive, it will be safer for your files than attempting to remove complicated viruses on your own.

• Always supervise your children when they use the Internet.

• Viruses and scams are evolving as quickly as the methods you use to fight them. Always keep your security software up-to-date to ensure it performs at its maximum potential.

• No computer security is 100 percent effective. Use safe browsing habits and never give information to anyone you do not know.

References

• US-Cert: Security Tips
• US-CERT: Coordinating Virus and Spyware Defense
• US-CERT: Choosing and Protecting Passwords
• Home Network Security
• Microsoft: Four Steps to Protect Your Computer