|
ARE YOU AT RISK?
If you are like most people, you have dismissed the threat of getting hacked because you don’t think you are a target. You’re probably not a target – but your system might be.
Now hackers are using the latest broad-based searching tools that can scan thousands of machines per hour looking for holes. When they find a hole, they can take over the machine and use it either as a staging area for further attacks or as a “zombie” system to launch attacks against other sites.
Here are five things you can do to help deter future attacks.
- Get a personal firewall
Personal firewalls are easy to install, inexpensive and very effective. If you have an “always on connection” chances of getting hacked will drop dramatically if you install virtually any of the available personal firewalls. Two good firewalls that are cheap or free are “The Tiny Personal Firewall” and the “ZoneAlarm” personal firewall.
- Antivirus software
Antivirus software is your second line of defense. It is possible that something might get through your firewall and if it does, your antivirus system is your best chance to catch it. This only works if your antivirus signatures are up-to-date. Make it a point of updating the signatures at least once a week.
- Keep your software up-to-date
There have been a very large number of security flaws identified in Windows software, and many automated hacking tools know how to exploit the latest flaws in that platform. Be sure to do a Windows update at least once a month.
- Do regular backups
Regular backups are your final line of defense against attack. Depending on how much data you have, consider getting a CD-ROM burner. For $1 per disk, you can have archival backups and avoid reusing media. That way you have a copy of every change you have made. Obviously, this doesn’t work if you are managing a large site more than 500MB of data, but if you are managing more than a casual amount of data, it is essential to make sure you can recover it if need be.
- Use a credit card vs. a debit card
Always use a credit card when doing any kind of business. The credit card may have certain protections in the event that your credit card number is stolen and abused. Debit cards may not have such protections. They are equivalent of a direct withdrawal from your checking account.
Tim Westeen
S & H Systems
414-303-3005
|
