Four Things You Should Do to Your Computer Today

1
Four Things You Should Do to Your Computer Today

• Don Yarman
• OLC IT Division
• OLC Chapter Conferences
• Spring 2007

2
The Four Things

• Automatic Updates
• Firewall
• Anti-Virus
• Plus A little discussion of spam phishing
  filters
• Thats all Im saying you may go about your
  business.
• If you need to know more or want to argue, please
  stay.

3
My Objectives

• Doing anything is better than doing nothing.
• My recommendations may not be the absolute best
  thing you can do -- thats a moving target
  anyway.
• Ill present a baseline of what you must do, some
  recommendations of how to do it, and well
  discuss what you can do above and beyond the
  minimum.

4
Credit where its due

• OPLINTECH list, 30 June 2004How to keep your PC
  spyware and malware free for nothing!Jim
  Kenzig, Cuyahoga County PLhttp//www.thinworkplac
  e.com/article_read.asp?id62
• WindowsSecrets.com Security Baselinehttp//wind
  owssecrets.com/reviews/security-baseline/

5
What Im talking about

• Personal computers (at home or library)
• Windows operating system (esp. XP)
• Any Internet connection (esp. broadband)

6
1. Enable Automatic Updates

• Latest service packs and hotfixes
• To enable
• Go to your Control Panel (StartgtSettingsgt)
• Automatic Updates or Security Center
• Second or Third radio button
• Second option? You have to install
• Third button not good choice if you dont have
  broadband at home

7
Older PC without Automatic Updates

• You can try updating manually http//update.micros
  oft.com , but Microsoft no longer supports
  Windows 98
• WARNINGNew Microsoft Update includes Office(Do
  you know where your Office disks are?)

8
2. Install a good firewall

• Enable Windows Firewall.
• Automatically enabled in Service Pack 2
• Directions on Microsoft sitehttp//tinyurl.com/hy
  enk

9
Not Windows XP?

• Obtain good software or purchase router with a
  hardware firewall
• Norton Internet Security 2007(PC Mag Editors
  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).

10
3. Maintain Antivirus

• No excuses.
• Review leaders ConsumerSearch.com saysScots
  Newsletter, WebUser.com, CNet.com
• Best Kaspersky (compatibility
  conflicts) NOD32 (usability complaints)
• Worst McAfee and Grisoft AVG Norton mixed
• Free AOL Active Virus Shieldhttp//www.activevi
  russhield.com Grisoft AVG Free
  editionhttp//free.grisoft.com
• Spend the money. Update definitions daily.

11
Most programs are recommended by someone
12
WindowSecrets.com Security Baseline

1. Hardware Firewall Linksys Wireless-G WRT54GL
2. Security Suite ZoneAlarm Internet Security Suite
3. Antispyware Program Webroot Spy Sweeper
4. Update Management Windows Automatic Update

13
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.com Ad-Aware SE
  Personalhttp//www.lavasoft.com

14
ConsumerSearch again
15
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.

16
Bottom lineUpdates Updates Updates

• Critical updates to your operating system
• Access updates in your firewall rules
• Definition updates for your antivirus

17
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)

18
Questions?

• OPLINTECH listhttp//mail.oplin.org/mailman/listi
  nfo/oplintechThe unofficial member list of the
  OLC IT division
• This presentation is available online at
  www.oplin.org/presentations/fourthings.ppt