In this modern era when so many people use computers, there are few simple habits which will keep your computer free from viruses and other malware used to spy on you and your contacts.
DON’T WAIT, UPDATE!
Updating your computer/mobile phone software fixes your problems or security holes found by the software developer.
KICK OUT THE PIRATES!
Pirated software is dangerous thus cannot be trusted and should not be used
STRONG PASSWORDS
The more complex and lengthier the password, it is more secured and hard to guess or steal.
DON′T SHARE DRIVES
Sharing drives is a major reason where a malware can travel from one computer to another without any internet connection
SAFER FILE SHARING
Instead of using attachments or flash drives, use online file sharing option
Everyone has received notices on their computers saying “Software Update Available: Update Now or Remind Me Later”. Choosing “Update Now” is simple and powerful way to stay safer online.
Using pirated software - like free “Microsoft Windows” software online or what you buy on the street - is dangerous.
First, it may have been modified to contain viruses. Second, because it’s pirated, you won’t receive updates from the original manufacturer so you are wide open to all the vulnerabilities discovered in the software.
Instead, try free and open source alternatives: OpenOffice instead of Microsoft word, Firefox or Chrome instead of Internet Explorer, and Ubuntu instead of Windows.
Get official copies of software if possible.
Passwords are key to your life. Whether for your computer, your email account, or your Facebook account, make your password long, complex, and unique.
- A strong password must have
- letters(lower and upper)
- Numbers
- Symbols
- Be at least 16 characters long
- Should not have names or dates related to you (eg. Tenzin1985 or Rangzen59)
Putting your flash drive (also called thumb drives, jump drives. Or USB sticks) in other people’s computers or allowing other people to put their in your computer spreads viruses and spyware.
This is especially true if you are using a public, shared computer, such as one in a cybercafe. If you put a thumb drive in an infected computer, it will pick up all the viruses and then infect other computer you use it in afterward.
There are lots of free options now for file sharing and storage online. You won’t even have to worry about losing your thumb drive any longer!
Stay safer – don’t Share Drives.
SAFER FILE SHARING
Stay safer by dropping the habit of sending attachments or using flash drives. These leave you open to spy and malware attacks. Instead, use other file sharing options online – they’re easy!
Many email services now have “cloud storage”, like Google Drive and Microsoft SkyDrive. You can also use other free services like Dropbox, www.ge.tt