Some Personal System Guidelines
Unbind file and print sharing from TCP/IP
Shut off all unnecessary services!!
Keep virus software up-to-date
Use some type of firewall software or hardware
Make backups and keep the media off-site
Notes:
There are a number of actions that a user can take to protect themselves when on the Internet, either via dial-up or 24/7 (ADSL or cable modem) access:
- Windows users should disassociate (unbind) file and print sharing from TCP/IP. Details on how to accomplish this are provided on the next page.
- Another hint for Windows users: display file extensions, an option that is off by default. When the Anna Kournikova virus hit on 2/12/2001, for example, many people opened the virus file, named annakournikova.jpg.vbs, because all they saw was annakournikova.jpg and they thought it was a "safe" JPEG file. Display file extensions by opening Windows Explorer, choose the View, Folder Options... submenu, and click on the View tab.
- All unnecessary or unused services should be turned off on your computer. Details on this are provided on later pages.
- Virus software should be installed on your computer and always running. In addition, you should regularly (at least weekly!) check for new anti-virus signature files from your anti-virus software vendor.
- Employ some sort of software and/or hardware firewall for your connection. Both types of firewall will be discussed on later pages.
- Make backups of your computer files. At the very least, backup all files with volatile data, such as program source code, word processing documents, presentations, Web pages, your Quicken database, etc. Be sure that you have a backup of your installed software, as well; it is actually sometimes easier to reinstall software and recover data files than to try to rebuild the entire system. Also, know your reason for doing a backup and plan for the disaster for which you are trying to recover. If you are worried only about disk failure, a second disk drive might be sufficient for backup; if you are also worried about fire or flood, be sure to store your backup media offsite.