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:
- 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.
- 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 dont have virus software, see http://security.mcn.org/antivirus
for a list of software vendors that have free trial packages.
- Dont 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.
- 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.
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