As the world of Information and Communication Technology advances, it brings along a whole new dimension of utilities and benefits that aim to make life easier, especially forsmall businesses and the working community. But all these perks unfortunately come withsome dangers. As much as you might need to use high-tech gadgets in your business, you must keep in mind that all data is vulnerable to viruses, bugs, and malware. While a completely secure computer network sounds hard to attain, there are certain things you can do to mitigate the risks. Today, we will share the top ten tips that can help you to secure your computer network.
Install antivirus software and make sure it’s up to date
It is always recommended to install an antivirus package designed specifically for business, especially when a major part of your business operations depend on computing. You can find the best antivirus for small businesses today, offering you virus protection, firewall, spam protection etc. Software makers like Bitdefender Antivirus can provide you with one click security from all internet threats and local virus protection from USBs and other storage devices. It is advisable toupdate your chosen software regularly, as new viruses develop every day.
Use Active Firewalls
Firewalls serve as a key source of protecting PCs from internet intruders by creating a wall between your PC and the virtual world. If you have a PC, a software firewall would be enough, but if you run a business and need protection for several PCs at a same time, hardware firewalls will do the trick.
Do not Access Spam Emails or Messages from Unknown Sources
The emails landing in the spam folder including those from unknown sources are most likely to be carrying viruses and spam. So, if you get such messages or emails – which you most certainly do – it is wise to delete them.
Backup your Data on External Storage
Even though best antivirus programs provide significant protection, but a machine is a machine. Your business may be secure from virtual threats, but a hard disk can get corrupted anytime resulting in the loss of all that valuable data. To prevent this, we recommend that you regularlybackup your data on an external storage.
Download Security Updates Frequently
Another important tip is to updatethe operating system’s security protocols. Activate automatic updates to get periodic alerts about security patches.
Have your PCs Password Protected
You can also prevent a security breach by assigning your computer a strong password. This saves your computer from any unauthorized access.
Do not Share your Computer with an Unknown Computer Network
When you connect to a network, you are often prompted to share your computer with the network. Agree to this only if you are certain that the network issecure, otherwise itcan give access to hackers.
Try to Stay Away from Rogue Websites
Thousands of users across the world fall prey to rogue websites that steal your personal information and result in serious damage such as credit card thefts, or even gain access to your computer to steal your valuable data. The easiest way to warrant the authenticity of a website is tolook for a green lock in the address bar and https:// in the beginning of the link.
Make sure you are not Connected to the Internet When your PC is not in USE
If you are not using your computer and accessing the internet, we suggest that you turn the internet connection off, because an idle computer connected to the internet is more vulnerable to be attacked by hackers.
Use a Dependable Web Browser
Another key consideration to secure a computer is to use a dependable web browser for surfing purposes. Using unknown web browsers means inviting spam and malware. Mozilla, Chrome and Internet Explorer are still the best.
We hope these tips will help you making your computer more secure. Cheers!!