Internet Security
Topics
- Best Practices for Keeping Your Home Network Secure (one of many National Security Agency (NSA) fact sheets)
- Information for Windows users
- Information for Mac users
- Firewalls
- Malware (malicious software):
- Spyware (information-collecting software)
- Adware (advertising software (pop-ups))
- Viruses / worms
- Phishing (fraudulent requests for your account information)
- Spam (junk mail)
- Flash Player (keep it up-to-date and remove old versions)
- Java (keep it up-to-date and remove old versions)
Information for Windows users
Find out which version of Windows your computer is using
Go to the Microsoft Update website (includes Windows Updates and updates for various other Microsoft software installed on the computer), let it scan your computer for any available updates and install all Critical Updates. These are FREE security updates directly from Microsoft. Unless your computer is part of an office network and your network administrator has instructed you not to install these updates for some reason, you have NO excuse for not keeping your computer up-to-date.
The Microsoft Updates include security updates for Windows, Internet Explorer, Outlook Express, Media Player, various other components of Windows, and Microsoft Office products/components.
You can also configure your computer to download/install Critical Updates from Microsoft Update / Windows Update automatically:
Windows 7
Windows Vista
Windows XP *** IMPORTANT: See Microsoft Support for Windows XP ends April 8, 2014
Much more information and tips can be found here:
Microsoft - Safety & Security Center
Information for Apple/Mac users
Finding your OS X version and build information
See the Apple Product Security site for updates to Apple software.