Keeping Your Internet Business Safe From Hackers
If you owned a restaurant, you'd lock the doors after closing,
right?
If you owned a nightclub you'd hire bouncers to keep rowdy
people out, right?
You'd be surprised how many Internet business owners fail to
keep the gates closed tight... many are just begging for the
hackers and viruses to strike with an attitude of apathy about
security.
We're talking security in this week's article. I'll share with
you some of the quick and easy strategies I use to keep hackers
and other undesirables away from my precious computer, which
after all is where my business is located.
Gotta keep it safe, sound and secure.
1. Get an anti-virus software. This is an absolute MUST. With
the virtually overnight global spread of computer viruses due to
the ever increasing use of email, viruses are on the rampant.
Arm yourself with an antivirus package that you can update
regularly for new virus definitions, to remain protected against
the latest threats. There's a free antivirus package called
InoculateIt that many people recommend: http://antivirus.cai.com/
2. Be paranoid of email attachments. Even with a cutting edge
antivirus package, a virus might get through. Do not open
attachments with suspicious looking extensions (no matter who
they're from). Absolutely stay away from .exe and ..vb files, as
these can be very malicious. In fact, disable these files via
your email software (check out the help file if need be).
3. Install a firewall on your computer. A firewall software is a
program that basically blocks outside access to your computer.
Without a firewall you leave your computer wide open to hacker
attacks... who can then gain total control over your computer
and all your files. Could get very nasty. Do not spend another
moment on the Internet without a firewall. It's easy to install
and takes no time to get running. Here's a good firewall
software: http://www.zonelabs.com/
4. Don't download just any file off the Internet. Be very
careful what you download off the Net, as files might be laced
with viruses (or trojan horses - programs which maliciously give
hackers control over your computer). Only download files from
sites and merchants you have researched and trust.
5. If you don't want others to have access to your computer
while you're away from it, you can enable your screensaver
password. You've probably seen this in action in computer
stores: you approach this cool computer with a fancy screensaver
dancing across the screen. When you press a key or move the
mouse, you get an input box asking you for a password. To set
the password go to "Display" in the "Control Panel" if you're on
a Windows PC, then click on the "Screensaver" tab. You'll find a
checkbox that says "Password Protected" - check it and set your
password. By the way, this has nothing to do with the Internet.
It's an "offline" security measure.
6. When you're not using the Internet, just disconnect. This
will definitely stop the hackers... they can't enter through the
powercord ;-)
Put these tips into action and prevent yourself later hassle and
heartache. You'll be pleased to know that these simple steps can
eliminate the majority of security threats you face as an
Internet entrepreneur.
Remember the old business adage: "If you fail to plan, you plan
to fail".