Tip 7 in an occasional series. Keep visiting regularly for more Windows Security Tips.

Malicious emails may arrive containing viruses or Trojan horses. These malicious emails may arrive from strangers as spam, or they may arrive from friends with harmless-sounding titles and attachments that have irresistible titles… resist it! Unless you’re certain you know what these attachments contain, DO NOT OPEN THEM. It is much safer to delete them entirely from your system, then call your friend to find out what it was (and, if necessary, ask them to resend it) than to open it and then have to call them to inform them of the virus that has just infected your system! Your friends will, in the balance of probability, have no idea that their emails are transmitting viruses, so don’t assume it’s okay just because it is from uncle Bob.

Your anti-virus software may catch emails that contain viruses before they can do any harm to your PC, but don’t rely on them to do this. Anti-virus software is fallible, and there are any number of reasons for it not picking up a particular virus in a particular email at a particular time. If in doubt, Chuck It Out.

Tip 6 in an occasional series. Keep visiting regularly for more Windows Security Tips.

This tip is perhaps the most effective of all - certainly it is the easiest to understand. Executing this perfectly takes almost no effort, and is in fact something you should do anyway, regardless of any PC Security reasoning. If you are not using your computer, then TURN IT OFF! A computer with no power cannot be attacked by anyone outside your home, it cannot contract viruses, nor can it corrupt any data on your hard drive. It’s so simple: TURN IT OFF!

These days when saving energy becomes key to our survival on the planet, of rising energy bills, and of increased risk to computers and the data stored therein, not turning off when the computer is not required simply should not be an option.

In case you didn’t see it: TURN IT OFF!

Tip 5 in an occasional series. Keep visiting regularly for more Windows Security Tips.

Like your Windows Operating System, your software will often require updates, too. Occasionally malicious attackers will discover and exploit security ‘holes’ in innocuous-looking software such as Microsoft Office, some online games that you may play, or even in Anti-Virus software. All these programs should have the facility whereby you can check for program updates or patches and then download and install them. If you’re unsure then go to the manufacturer’s website and check manually. It’s well worth the time and effort.

Software cannot be perfect and flaws are a fact of life. Fortunately, though, these flaws needn’t affect your enjoyment of your computer if you keep up with the latest releases of your software.

Tip 4 in an occasional series. Keep visiting regularly for more Windows Security Tips.

Microsoft will often release so-called ‘patches‘ to its Windows software. These may be related to security flaws that have been spotted - and perhaps maliciously exploited - in other computers, so it really is vitally important that you ensure that your system is kept up to date. Going to the Windows Update page will start you on this process, which is painless.

Microsoft provide a useful facility within its operating system settings that allows Windows to automatically check and update itself where necessary. This is a simple configuration setting on your computer that, once set, rarely needs looking at again. Taking the time to find and understand this setting may well save much heartache in the future.

Tip 3 in an occasional series. Keep visiting regularly for more Windows Security Tips.

Properly installed, correctly setup, and regularly updated Anti-Virus protection can help to catch viruses, worms and malware before they become a problem. As always, you cannot afford to view Anti-Virus software as a panacea, but it is another useful tool in your defensive arsenal.

Viruses and their ilk can be transmitted in a number of different ways and knowing that they are present and working as another level of security, continually scanning your computer for suspicious looking activity, provides wonderful piece of mind.

Keeping your software updated is absolutely essential: new viruses are being ‘released’ on a daily basis and your Anti-Virus software will try and keep up with the constant onslaught. If you don’t update your software then your software may be impotent. Updating is such a simple process - indeed normally it can be quickly automated and then forgotten about - that there’s no excuse for not doing it.

Tip 2 in an occasional series. Keep visiting regularly for more Windows Security Tips.

Installing a firewall isn’t as difficult as it may sound. There are many, many free and paid alternatives that do the job wonderfully. For a free solution try Zone Alarm (free for non-commercial use). Download from the site, follow the setup instructions, and enjoy safer surfing.

A firewall protects your computer from unwanted access by third parties. Viruses, Trojan horses, malware, adware and worms, all of which may access your computer from the internet, can be stopped by a competent firewall.

Malicious entities on the internet will attempt to find unsecured PCs: those with a weakness that the entity can find and exploit. Once the PC is compromised (there will typically be some malicious software loaded onto the computer) the attacker can use it as he sees fit. Particularly nasty pieces of software include Key Loggers, which track and remember the keys you press on the keyboard; this is a common method by which criminals obtain passwords, bank details, and other personal information. A firewall will go some way to protecting you from this unwanted access.

Your computer is yours. Keep it that way.

Tip 1 in an occasional series. Keep visiting regularly for more Windows Security Tips.

Related Articles

• Why Should I Backup?
• How Do I Create A Backup?

Always, always remember to backup important data on a regular basis. If at all possible store the backups in a safe place away from your main computer - this may seem a little over the top but a fire, flood or theft can easily take out both your ‘live’ data (that already on the computer) and the backed up data. Losing one is annoying; losing both is an absolute disaster.

With an up to date backup stored somewhere safe, you know that if the worst comes to the worst you can reformat your computer and restore your data – it may be a time-consuming and unforgiving task, but at least you will not lose everything you have worked on. Which alternative do you prefer?

Putting in a little effort now will eliminate a lot of heartache later on.

Computers are omnipresent: they are all seeing and all knowing, and they control our lives in more ways than we would care to admit. Computers are used for everything from communication to online banking; from running large commercial buildings to running our own homes; we use them to shop, work, play and do everything inbetween. The more computers rule our lives the more potential there is for a virus or an attack on a computer – on its software, operating system, or the data contained in it – to have drastic consequences on our day-to-day lives.

Attacks can range from ‘phishing‘ attempts, to infecting your computer with a virus, from using it to attack other unsuspecting users, to simple wanton hacking and vandalism. The motives are irrelevant to the victim. What is important is the damage that it can do to our machines and data, and the disruption and potential financial loss that this can inflict on our lives.

While nothing can eliminate the possibility of an computer related attack, a few simple steps can help to reduce the likelihood, and can also limit the damage inflicted as and when the worst happens. PC security should be a priority in any home or office.