MCN Computer Security Recommendations

Now that you have an MCN DSL connection, the world of the internet is always available to you. DSL is always active, so that any time your computer is on, internet access is instantly available.

This access also comes with greater responsibility. Good computer security not only protects your personal information, but prevents other computers and networks from being harmed as well. Spam, viruses, worms, trojans and other malicious software are all problems, which every internet user will face.

MCN technical staff has several recommendations, which can improve your computer security and prevent problems from happening:

1. Use a Firewall. Firewalls prevent incoming network traffic from most computers, while allowing outgoing traffic from your computer(s). A firewall can be a small hardware device that sits between your DSL bridge and your computer, or it can be a software program that runs on your computer. For more information on firewalls, go to http://security.mcn.org/firewalls.
2. Install Anti-Virus Software. Computer viruses can be a minor annoyance, but they can also destroy valuable data on your computer. Then can also open back doors for malicious software used by hackers to infect and control other computers. If you don’t have virus software, see http://security.mcn.org/antivirus for a list of software vendors that have free trial packages.
3. Don’t Install Untrusted Software. One of the most pernicious security issues is the installation of spyware programs. These programs are installed as part of other software, usually freely downloaded utilities and games. Spyware installs invisibly on your computer, and can cause serious problems up to and including theft of personal data. To learn more about spyware, including how to remove it, visit http://security.mcn.org/spyware.
4. Install Software Updates. This is a critically important step for users of Macintosh, Windows and Linux operating systems. To prevent your computer from falling victim to a security hole that has not been patched, read up on software updates at http://security.mcn.org/updates.