ese can make an electronic “cut” in the cord of the other protocols that are not used. Although even hardware firewalls can still be hacked, it makes the process incredibly hard, as the hacker is reduced to a protocol that could be watched or used by the computer at the time he/she is trying to gain access. Even with operating systems such as Microsoft Windows incorporating their own firewalls into their programs, it does not guarantee security.

Even though a true black hat hacker could hack through any program and bypass hardware firewalls, if they were determine enough. You can always slow them down, if you really want to secure your computer. But remember, not to fill your computer with so many programs to prevent hackers that it changes the speed or effectiveness of the computer. If you are really concerned, simply unplug that network line and work off line, then save all your work to a

Things all computer users should know, but most do not. If you have an understanding of all of these principals you should never have a major problem with security on your computer. The average computer user does not know how insecure their computers really are.

Passwords

Passwords are an integral part of any computer use and as Bill gates says; the weakest link in the protection of information. A secure password consists of letters, numbers and capitals. For instance, using fluffy as a password, is not a secure password, The phrase is completely letters, and no capitals. however fluffy85 is better, but still not totally secure. Ideally, 19FlFfy85 is the most secure password, using capitals, numbers and letters. Other than the password itself, another top reason why a persons information is compromised is fraudulent emails and phony websites. This brings us to the next topic of Privacy policies.

Privacy Policies

On every website (at least with every company or business website) there should be a privacy policy, which is inherently agreed on when you are browsing the website. All privacy policies in Australia should comply with the privacy and information act, some guidelines are available at http://www.privacy.gov.au/publications/npps01.html. For other countries, please contact your local or state government to find relevant information. These Privacy policies, make sure that your information is protected, a simple rule is if there is no privacy policy, then do not enter in any information. There are companies that endorse and make sure that the privacy policy complies with all the relevant Laws and legislations, however for the majority are based and service sites based in the United States, a company that does this is Trustee™. This logo will only be found on U.S company websites.

SSL Certificates

What are SSL Certificates? SSL certificates, takes the data you enter on your computer, like your name, credit card number for instance, and encrypts it to 128bit key. To break down this to laymans terms, if you where to try and guess a number between 1 and 10, it could take you up to 9 times to get the right number. How about a number 1, followed by 38 zeros, this is a rough approximation of 128bit encryption? If the attacker where to try and gain access to your information, using a computer that could guess 1 trillion numbers per second (which does not exist yet), it could take up to a 2 million, million, million years to gain information. SSL certificates are very important when personal information is entered. Internet Explorer and most other browsers display a little yellow lock somewhere on the page, if the SSL certificate is recognized. However, there are a lot of SSL certificates out there, that are not picked up by Internet Explorer or other browsers. When a website has an SSL normally there is a “click to verify” Button with the organizations logo somewhere on the page. Most very secure, offering 128bit – 1024bit encryption. Generally, these logos indicate a safe site, but there is many more in addition to these two.

Firewalls

Firewalls are either programs or hardware that prevent outside influences from affecting your computer. The way this works is by limiting the information that your computer allows for it to communicate to online. Nowadays Microsoft Windows and other operating systems are integrating software firewalls in with their communications and network settings. This allows your computer to access certain protocols, and block and restricts others. Obviously, hardware firewalls are much more effective. These can make an electronic “cut” in the cord of the other protocols that are not used. Although even hardware firewalls can still be hacked, it makes the process incredibly hard, as the hacker is reduced to a protocol that could be watched or used by the computer at the time he/she is trying to gain access. Even with operating systems such as Microsoft Windows incorporating their own firewalls into their programs, it does not guarantee security.

Even though a true black hat hacker could hack through any program and bypass hardware firewalls, if they were determine enough. You can always slow them down, if you really want to secure your computer. But remember, not to fill your computer with so many programs to prevent hackers that it changes the speed or effectiveness of the computer. If you are really concerned, simply unplug that network line and work off line, then save all your work to a p

y policies.

Privacy Policies

On every website (at least with every company or business website) there should be a privacy policy, which is inherently agreed on when you are browsing the website. All privacy policies in Australia should comply with the privacy and information act, some guidelines are available at http://www.privacy.gov.au/publications/npps01.html. For other countries, please contact your local or state government to find relevant information. These Privacy policies, make sure that your information is protected, a simple rule is if there is no privacy policy, then do not enter in any information. There are companies that endorse and make sure that the privacy policy complies with all the relevant Laws and legislations, however for the majority are based and service sites based in the United States, a company that does this is Trustee™. This logo will only be found on U.S company websites.

SSL Certificates

What are SSL Certificates? SSL certificates, takes the data you enter on your computer, like your name, credit card number for instance, and encrypts it to 128bit key. To break down this to laymans terms, if you where to try and guess a number between 1 and 10, it could take you up to 9 times to get the right number. How about a number 1, followed by 38 zeros, this is a rough approximation of 128bit encryption? If the attacker where to try and gain access to your information, using a computer that could guess 1 trillion numbers per second (which does not exist yet), it could take up to a 2 million, million, million years to gain information. SSL certificates are very important when personal information is entered. Internet Explorer and most other browsers display a little yellow lock somewhere on the page, if the SSL certificate is recognized. However, there are a lot of SSL certificates out there, that are not picked up by Internet Explorer or other browsers. When a website has an SSL normally there is a “click to verify” Button with the organizations logo somewhere on the page. Most very secure, offering 128bit – 1024bit encryption. Generally, these logos indicate a safe site, but there is many more in addition to these two.

Firewalls

Firewalls are either programs or hardware that prevent outside influences from affecting your computer. The way this works is by limiting the information that your computer allows for it to communicate to online. Nowadays Microsoft Windows and other operating systems are integrating software firewalls in with their communications and network settings. This allows your computer to access certain protocols, and block and restricts others. Obviously, hardware firewalls are much more effective. These can make an electronic “cut” in the cord of the other protocols that are not used. Although even hardware firewalls can still be hacked, it makes the process incredibly hard, as the hacker is reduced to a protocol that could be watched or used by the computer at the time he/she is trying to gain access. Even with operating systems such as Microsoft Windows incorporating their own firewalls into their programs, it does not guarantee security.

Even though a true black hat hacker could hack through any program and bypass hardware firewalls, if they were determine enough. You can always slow them down, if you really want to secure your computer. But remember, not to fill your computer with so many programs to prevent hackers that it changes the speed or effectiveness of the computer. If you are really concerned, simply unplug that network line and work off line, then save all your work to a

U.S company websites.

SSL Certificates

What are SSL Certificates? SSL certificates, takes the data you enter on your computer, like your name, credit card number for instance, and encrypts it to 128bit key. To break down this to laymans terms, if you where to try and guess a number between 1 and 10, it could take you up to 9 times to get the right number. How about a number 1, followed by 38 zeros, this is a rough approximation of 128bit encryption? If the attacker where to try and gain access to your information, using a computer that could guess 1 trillion numbers per second (which does not exist yet), it could take up to a 2 million, million, million years to gain information. SSL certificates are very important when personal information is entered. Internet Explorer and most other browsers display a little yellow lock somewhere on the page, if the SSL certificate is recognized. However, there are a lot of SSL certificates out there, that are not picked up by Internet Explorer or other browsers. When a website has an SSL normally there is a “click to verify” Button with the organizations logo somewhere on the page. Most very secure, offering 128bit – 1024bit encryption. Generally, these logos indicate a safe site, but there is many more in addition to these two.

Firewalls

Firewalls are either programs or hardware that prevent outside influences from affecting your computer. The way this works is by limiting the information that your computer allows for it to communicate to online. Nowadays Microsoft Windows and other operating systems are integrating software firewalls in with their communications and network settings. This allows your computer to access certain protocols, and block and restricts others. Obviously, hardware firewalls are much more effective. These can make an electronic “cut” in the cord of the other protocols that are not used. Although even hardware firewalls can still be hacked, it makes the process incredibly hard, as the hacker is reduced to a protocol that could be watched or used by the computer at the time he/she is trying to gain access. Even with operating systems such as Microsoft Windows incorporating their own firewalls into their programs, it does not guarantee security.

Even though a true black hat hacker could hack through any program and bypass hardware firewalls, if they were determine enough. You can always slow them down, if you really want to secure your computer. But remember, not to fill your computer with so many programs to prevent hackers that it changes the speed or effectiveness of the computer. If you are really concerned, simply unplug that network line and work off line, then save all your work to a

ever, there are a lot of SSL certificates out there, that are not picked up by Internet Explorer or other browsers. When a website has an SSL normally there is a “click to verify” Button with the organizations logo somewhere on the page. Most very secure, offering 128bit – 1024bit encryption. Generally, these logos indicate a safe site, but there is many more in addition to these two.

Firewalls

Firewalls are either programs or hardware that prevent outside influences from affecting your computer. The way this works is by limiting the information that your computer allows for it to communicate to online. Nowadays Microsoft Windows and other operating systems are integrating software firewalls in with their communications and network settings. This allows your computer to access certain protocols, and block and restricts others. Obviously, hardware firewalls are much more effective. These can make an electronic “cut” in the cord of the other protocols that are not used. Although even hardware firewalls can still be hacked, it makes the process incredibly hard, as the hacker is reduced to a protocol that could be watched or used by the computer at the time he/she is trying to gain access. Even with operating systems such as Microsoft Windows incorporating their own firewalls into their programs, it does not guarantee security.

Even though a true black hat hacker could hack through any program and bypass hardware firewalls, if they were determine enough. You can always slow them down, if you really want to secure your computer. But remember, not to fill your computer with so many programs to prevent hackers that it changes the speed or effectiveness of the computer. If you are really concerned, simply unplug that network line and work off line, then save all your work to a

ese can make an electronic “cut” in the cord of the other protocols that are not used. Although even hardware firewalls can still be hacked, it makes the process incredibly hard, as the hacker is reduced to a protocol that could be watched or used by the computer at the time he/she is trying to gain access. Even with operating systems such as Microsoft Windows incorporating their own firewalls into their programs, it does not guarantee security.

Even though a true black hat hacker could hack through any program and bypass hardware firewalls, if they were determine enough. You can always slow them down, if you really want to secure your computer. But remember, not to fill your computer with so many programs to prevent hackers that it changes the speed or effectiveness of the computer. If you are really concerned, simply unplug that network line and work off line, then save all your work to a portable media and restart with the network cable plugged back in. That will erase most traces of the file you were working on. Most of the main stream firewalls will do a sufficient job. Such as Norton™ or MacAfee™, keep in mind the more mainstream you go the more hackers are working on getting through that particular piece of software. We use Tiny Personal® Firewall. It takes a while to setup and clarify which protocols are used by you, and which are not. But if you are prepared to take the time for a week or so, then you will find a program like that is considerably hard to break through. This is being used by the US Air force for their computer systems; you can download it at http://www.brothersoft.com/Utilities_Security_Tiny_Personal_Firewall_81.html.

Virus Protection and removal

Viruses are one of the biggest computer problems in the world today. The majority of computer services includes or only consists of virus removal and protection. A big reason why most people get viruses is that they trust and use mainstream virus protection programs, which are targeted most by the developers of viruses. They are designed specifically to get around Norton, and MacAfee. There is nothing wrong with these mainstream virus scanners, when a new virus comes along, usually they’re on top of if within 24hrs or so. We have found that the best anti-virus, through testing and long term use is Avira AntiVir™. This is a free virus Scanner for personal use and can be found at http://www.free-av.com/.

Cookies

Cookies are temporary files used by your computer. Usually they hold information like your preferences used in a website, or which country you are from (depending on the website). However there are some websites that are able use cookies to allow virus to get through, or keep your personal information, to send off to another website. We recommend deleting your cookies every month or so, depending on your internet usage.

Trojans (Trojan horses)

A Trojan is a type of virus, the name taken from the Trojan horse mythology. It works very much like that myth. They are programs that you willingly install on your computer, and they contain and subprogram in them, to send off information, change settings for hackers, or release a virus. They can be very dangerous. The good news is that most virus scanners pick up Trojans, and a good firewall will prevent the information from sending. You do occasionally, find a program that can sneak past both programs, and you will never even know its running. It is good habit, to periodically check what is starting up when your computer starts. You can do this with a third party program, by checking your registry or by using some administration tools. PLEASE NOTE THAT THIS IS ENTERING THE ADMINISTRATION OF THE COMPUTER, ANY ALTERATIONS CAN POTENTIALLY DAMAGE THE STARTING OF YOUR OPERATING SYSTEM. Go to the start menu and click run (this may be turned off in the task bar settings). Type “msconfig” and then press enter. In the tabbed menu, there should be a tab named “startup”; click on it and you will see a list of programs that start up when your computer does. You can use the check boxes to stop a program from starting up. If you get to know this list very well, you will quickly know if a new program starts when your computer does, if it is an unknown program, it could well be a Trojan. I cannot stress enough to be careful when you are performing this. If you can, get an experienced computer technician or your local computer whiz to help.

Spy ware and Ad ware

Spy ware and ad-ware are types of Trojans. They usually repre