Protect Your Computer

From Viruses, Hackers

and Spies
Protect Your Computer From Viruses, Hackers, and
Spies

Protect Yourself and Your Devices

• Our devices contain a wealth of personal information about
us. This may include banking and other financial records,
and medical information—information that we want to
protect. If your devices are not protected, identity thieves
and other fraudsters may be able to get access and steal
your personal information. Spammers could use your
computer as a "zombie drone" to send spam that looks like
it came from you. Malicious viruses or spyware could be
deposited on your computer, slowing it down or destroying
files.
Protect Your Computer From Viruses, Hackers, and
Spies

• By using safety measures and good practices to

protect your devices, you can protect your
privacy and your family. The following tips are
offered to help you lower your risk while you're
online.
Keep your device secure

• Make sure to download recommended updates from

your device's manufacturer or operating system
provider, especially for important software such as your
internet browser. Antivirus software, antispyware
software, and firewalls are also important tools to
thwart attacks on your device.
Keep up-to-date

• Update your system, browser, and important apps regularly,

taking advantage of automatic updating when it's available.
These updates can eliminate software flaws that allow hackers to
view your activity or steal information. Windows Update is a
service offered by Microsoft. It will download and install software
updates to the Microsoft Windows Operating System, Internet
Explorer, Outlook Express, and will also deliver security updates
to you. Patching can also be run automatically for other systems,
such as Macintosh Operating System. For mobile devices, be sure
to install Android or iPhone updates that are distributed
automatically.
Antivirus software
• Antivirus software protects your device from viruses
that can destroy your data, slow down or crash your
device, or allow spammers to send email through your
account. Antivirus protection scans your files and your
incoming email for viruses, and then deletes anything
malicious. You must keep your antivirus software
updated to cope with the latest "bugs" circulating the
internet.
Antivirus software
• Most antivirus software includes a feature to download
updates automatically when you are online. In addition,
make sure that the software is continually running and
checking your system for viruses, especially if you are
downloading files from the web or checking your email.
Set your antivirus software to check for viruses every
day. You should also give your system a thorough scan
at least twice a month.
Antispyware software
• Spyware is software installed without your knowledge or
consent that can monitor your online activities and
collect personal information while you're online. Some
kinds of spyware, called keyloggers, record everything
you key in—including your passwords and financial
information. Signs that your device may be infected
with spyware include a sudden flurry of ads, being taken
to websites you don't want to go to, and generally
slowed performance.
Antispyware software
• Spyware protection is included in some antivirus
software programs. Check your antivirus software
documentation for instructions on how to activate the
spyware protection features. You can buy separate
antispyware software programs. Keep your antispyware
software updated and run it regularly.
Firewalls
• A firewall is a software program or piece of hardware
that blocks hackers from entering and using your
computer. Hackers search the internet the way some
telemarketers automatically dial random phone
numbers. They send out pings (calls) to thousands of
computers and wait for responses. Firewalls prevent
your computer from responding to these random calls. A
firewall blocks communications to and from sources you
don't permit. This is especially important if you have a
high-speed internet connection, like DSL or cable.
Use strong protection
• Making use of complex passwords and strong methods
of authentication can help keep your personal
information secure.
Choose strong passwords
• Protect your devices and accounts from intruders by
choosing passwords that are hard to guess. Use strong
passwords with at least eight characters, a combination of
letters, numbers and special characters. Don't use a word
that can easily be found in a dictionary or any reference to
personal information, such as a birthday. Some hackers
use programs that can try every word in the dictionary,
and can easily find personal information such as dates of
birth. Try using a phrase to help you remember your
password, using the first letter of each word in the phrase.
For example, HmWc@w2—How much wood could a
woodchuck chuck.
Choose strong passwords
• Choose unique passwords for each online account you
use: financial institution, social media, or email. If you
have too many passwords to remember, consider using
password manager software, which can help you create
strong individual passwords and keep them secure.
Use stronger authentication
• Many social media, email, and financial accounts allow
the use of stronger authentication methods. These
methods can include using a fingerprint, one-time codes
sent to a mobile device, or other features that ensure a
user is supposed to have access to the account.
Protect your private information
• While checking email, visiting websites, posting to
social media, or shopping, pay attention to where you
click and who you give your information to.
Unscrupulous websites or data thieves can attempt to
trick you into giving them your personal data.
Be careful what you click
• Phishing attacks—where hackers send seemingly genuine
messages to trick you to hand over personal information—
are becoming more sophisticated. For instance, you may
receive an urgent message stating that your bank account
has been locked and requiring you to enter your password
and Social Security number to unlock it. Think twice before
clicking on links in messages such as this. Most genuine
messages from financial institutions will not ask for personal
information directly, but will instead instruct you to call or
visit a website directly. You can also verify the email address
that sent the message to ensure it came from the expected
sender.
Shop safely
• When shopping online, check out the website before
entering your credit card number or other personal
information. Read the privacy policy and look for
opportunities to opt out of information sharing. (If there
is no privacy policy posted, beware! Shop elsewhere.)
Learn how to tell when a website is secure. Look for
"https" in the address bar or an unbroken padlock icon
at the bottom of the browser window. These are signs
that your information will be encrypted or scrambled,
protecting it from hackers as it moves across the
internet.
Be careful what you share
• Social media allows sharing of all aspects of life, but it's
important to control who has access to the information
you share. Information thieves can use social media
postings to gather information and then use the
information to hack into other accounts or for identity
theft. To protect yourself, make use of privacy settings
to limit the visibility of personal posts to your personal
networks, and restrict the amount of information you
share with the general public.
Responding to data breaches
• Even if you make all the right moves, your data may be
stolen from a company you trusted to keep it safe. If
you find that your personal information has been
accessed without your authorization, take steps to
protect yourself. Place a fraud alert on your credit file.
Review your annual credit reports. And if you suspect
your information has been breached, put a freeze on
your credit file to prevent fraudsters from opening new
accounts in your name.
Parents, take control
• Don't let your children risk your family's privacy. Make
sure they know how to use the internet safely. For
younger children, install parental control software on
devices that limits the websites kids can visit.