Ever wonder just how easy it is for thieves to steal your sensitive computer data without you having a single clue? Fact is computer thieves and hackers are invading personal files on a daily basis without anyone suspecting a thing. We all enjoy the capabilities of the internet with its vast amounts of data right at our finger tips. Almost everything we do whether it’s visiting a website or sending e-mail leaves a digital stamp of personal data. Some of it remains on your computer and some is transmitted to third parties. The good news is you can lock down your system and control who sees your sensitive data with software tools and privacy tips.
Think Your Computer is Safe–Think Again–If you access the Internet with a dial-up account, the chances of data theft are much less. But if you have high-speed Internet access, such as DSL or a cable modem, be very cautious. With these “always on” connections, you become a more likely target for hackers. Gibson Research Corporation offers a free diagnostic that tests your computer security. Go to the website and click on Shields Up! The diagnostic test only takes a minute and displays the results and system vulnerabilities for review. www.grc.com
Update Your Software–It is extremely important to update your software and apply patches to your system, particularly in the case of Windows® operating systems and Internet Explorer browser applications. This is a wake up call to all the “I don’t have time, I’ll do it later” folks out in privacy breech land. You are opening your doors to hackers by putting off updates. A few minutes of update time is well worth the effort. Microsoft has released a free utility called Microsoft Baseline Security Analyzer. It can be used on computers with Windows 2000® or Windows XP® to scan your system for potential vulnerabilities & updates. Go to the Microsoft website for more details. www.microsoft.com
Personal Firewall Software–If you have high-speed Internet access, such as DSL or a cable modem, be very cautious of how your connection is configured. Most connections use equipment such as hubs, routers and cable modems. If this equipment is not properly configured or doesn’t include a firewall you could be vulnerable to hackers. One way to help keep hackers out is to install a personal firewall program. One of the top rated programs is ZoneAlarm®. It can be used on most Windows® computers for both dial-up modem and high-speed connections. You can download it for free from ZoneLabs®. www.zonelabs.com
Use Anonymizers to Protect Against Tracking - To prevent your activities from being tracked as you visit websites, use online tools that disguise who you are and where your computer identity came from. These are sometimes called proxy servers and have the capability of hiding your computer identity from prying eyes and redirecting hacker probes. One reliable service is Anonymizer®. www.anonymizer.com
If you have a comment or have a subject, question or topic that you would like me to address, please email me at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it . For computer service or repair, call Fast-teks at 951 506-FAST (3278) to schedule an appointment or visit our website at www.fastteks.com. We now also fix printers, Laptops and service MACs!