Technology, Data Recovery, Cell Phones, Latest Gadgets, Game Reviews

The information and data that is most precious, confidential and
important to you will almost certainly be on your home PC or laptop:
it is thus critically important that you secure these assets. Take this
advice: Never forget the obvious: computer thefts (particularly of laptops)
are prevalent, so exercise care with these valuable pieces
of equipment. The thief may be only interesting in the hardware
itself, not the contents of it – but this is little consolation to you
when you lose all of your personal files.

If you work at home for an organization ensure that you are
aware of, and comply with, any policies and procedures that they
have in relation to IT equipment and software in remote sites.
You should also check their policies and procedures on the storing
of their confidential information on home computers.

Install anti-virus software and ensure that it is kept continually
up to date (see the Web directory of this book for excellent free
programs for personal use).

Back up your data regularly and then keep the backup in a
separate secure place.

Install a firewall and then ensure that it is kept continually up to
date (again, see the Web directory of this book for excellent free
programs for personal use).

Use a BIOS password and a screen saver password to prevent
unauthorized access to your confidential information.

Don’t open unknown e-mail attachments – various viruses have
been distributed in this way, and no doubt will be in the future.

Do not use or distribute programs when their origins are unknown
to you.

Make sure that all your applications – particularly your application
system – are kept up to date with the latest patches (easier
said than done, I know!).

If possible, when not in use, turn your computer off and/or
disconnect it from the network and/or Internet. If you are not
on the Internet, or your computer is turned off totally, no intruder
can gain access to it.

Make certain that you have a boot disk or recovery disk, so if
you suffer a catastrophic failure then with this and your backup
disc you can start again.

Change passwords on Internet sites frequently (very few Web
sites request you to do this as a matter of course once you have
signed up with them). Don’t share your passwords with coworkers,
friends or even family – this could have horrendous
consequences if, as an example, money is removed from your
online bank account.

Be careful about giving your credit card details over the Internet
– unless you know who you are dealing with you could be
sending your details straight to a fraudster or transmitting them
across the ether with no security. Only give your credit card
details to a site that uses encryption.