Nowadays, staying safe online has become a never-ending battle – for children as well as adults. Because cybercriminals are becoming smarter and more sophisticated in their operations, they are real threats to your personal security and privacy. Your money, your computer, your family, and your business are all at risk.

However, with a little common sense and some knowledge about what to do and not do, one can surf the ‘net unscathed. Here is a great set of rules for kids while they are online. I found these rules at safekids.com. Parents, Employers, and Managers, you can take some notes from these rules, too: Read the rest of this entry

Each of the items in the checklist below is part of a broad and easy to implement security policy.

1. Install all windows critical updates for your operating system from the Microsoft Update site – it’s free! All that’s required to keep your Microsoft operating system up to date is an Internet connection.
2. Install and configure a firewall – either a hardware or software based firewall is a must! If you are using a router, it probably has firewall capabilities included. Software firewalls are available at minimal cost; one of the best is free!
3. Install and configure antivirus software – the cost is minimal, there are even free versions available – the protection is priceless! Update the definition files daily – scan your drive weekly – it can all be automated with most programs.
4. Create a backup – even the best plan can be circumvented – be prepared for the worst with a complete backup of your hard drive! If you already have a CD burner and software installed in your machine, you probably have the tools to create a complete system backup – for only the cost of a few CD-R’s!

Obviously, the costs to properly protect yourself from the worst threats to your security are almost nil. If you need help with any step above, simply use a Google search to find help – it’s freely available.

Follow these four simple steps and you will have implemented comprehensive and complete protection for your PC.