Saint Andrew’s Hacking Paradise

8 Important Security Enhancements

1. Check Windows Update and Office Update regularly (http://office.microsoft.com/productupdates).
Click on the Automatic Updates tab in the System control panel and choose the appropriate options.

2. Install a personal firewall. Both SyGate (www.sygate.com) and ZoneAlarm (www.zonelabs.com) offer free versions.

3. Install a free spyware blocker. I am choose SpyBot Search & Destroy (http://security.kolla.de). SpyBot is also paranoid and ruthless in hunting out tracking cookies.

4. Block pop-up spam messages by disabling the Windows Messenger service.

Open Control Panel >> Administrative Tools >> Services and you'll see Messenger.

Right-click and go to Properties, Set Start-Up Type to Disabled and press the Stop button.

5. Use strong passwords and change them periodically. Passwords should have at least seven characters; use letters and numbers and have at least one symbol.

6. If you're using Outlook or Outlook Express, use the current version or one with the Outlook Security Update installed. The update and current versions patch numerous vulnerabilities.

7. Use some Anti-Malware software. I suggest you Malwarebytes'.

8. If you have a wireless network, turn on the security features: Use MAC filtering, turn off SSID broadcast, and even use WEP with the biggest key you can get.

Do you have questions, comments, or suggestions? Feel free to post a comment!