Treat the Internet Like Your Home
Part 1 of 3
I want to make this simple for black people who don’t understand the Internet. Computer security means that you treat your Internet like you treat you home. I promise, if you do, you will be a lot safer.
Let’s start with a simple example. Whether you’re home or not you keep your house secure. You keep the doors and windows locked or at least closed. The Internet and your computer is the same way. You have an Internet connection and you have a computer. Secure the openings to your computer like you do doors and windows. Make sure you understand that most routers and computers come with a firewall, basically a barrier to outside intrusions. Just like locking the doors and windows in your home, setting a firewall is designed to let in only what you want and nothing more. The focus in this blog is more on knowledge than technology so I won’t bore you with too much techno talk. Call your internet provider and ask them about your firewall settings. They will be happy to help you. Or check out this information from the University of Delaware that shows you how to get the most out of Windows 7 security settings.
Now I know I promised not to get too techy. So I recommend that you call your internet provider for help setting your firewall but for those of you who want to get your hands a little dirty visit Microsoft SecurityTech Center for step by step instructions for setting your firewall.
It’s all about security. So securing your computer also includes learning to recognize things that indicate your computer may have a virus. Have you suddenly noticed a new toolbar on your browser? Or maybe you have a new icon on your desktop and you don’t know where it came from. Is your computer slow and freezes frequently? Does it have trouble starting when you turn it on? Will it refuse to turn off? If you have one or all of these symptoms then I’m willing to bet you have some form of malware, an old computer with out of date software, a virus or maybe your computer is somebody’s zombie. All these conditions results from poor upkeep, poor security and clutter.
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