PROTECTION COMPUTER

Protect your computer
Control access to your PC:

* If you are using a PC and need to walk away from it for any reason, log off or lock your workstation.
* Select passwords that would be difficult for others to guess and change then frequently.
* Do not give your password to anyone, or leave written notes with your password near your machine.
* Report any suspicious activity on your PC to the appropriate person.

Other things to be aware of:

1. Install anti-virus software
A virus is a malicious program that can destroy data on your computer and slow your computer's performance. Viruses are often received via email and to protect your PC, you should install anti-virus software and run regular scans.
In addition, you should:

* Make it a habit to never open email attachments from unknown sources.
* Be cautions when downloading and running programs, as they may contain unsecured data, which cannot be filtered by firewall or anti-virus software.

2. Personal firewall Must On
In simple terms a firewall monitors for outside attempts to access your system and blocks communication from specified sources. Some operating systems (like Windows) come with a built-in firewall.

3. Updates and patches Your Operating System And Antivirus Software
From time to time, vulnerabilities are discovered in programs running on your PC. The vendor would then release a patch to fix this weakness. To check for patches and weaknesses you should visit the vendor's website on a regular basis.

4. Risk of file-sharing
File-sharing occurs when you download software that connects your PC to an informal network of other computers running the same software. This enables you to share information (music, games and software) with millions of users.
Sounds tempting, but you should be aware of the risks. By downloading this software, you could unwittingly allow access not just to the files that you intend sharing, but also to confidential information on your hard drive. You could also unintentionally download material protected by copyright, or pornography labelled as something innocent.

5. Spyware
This is software that is installed on your PC without your knowledge or consent. It can affect your computer use, access your personal information, and (in some cases) even use your PC to launch attacks on other machines.
To avoid spyware, don't download software unless you know exactly what it is. Often anti-virus software combats against spyware programs. If not, you can install separate anti-spyware software.