Action Business Club

Thinking of your business!

Next meeting:
Feb
8

We meet every Thursday at 07:00
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A2Z Computing

News :: Top security and antivirus tips

Top tips to keep your system clean and your data safe

1. Install reliable antivirus software

There are lots of antivirus applications out there but we recommend using Sophos for a business environment or AVG for home use.  Regular updates and scans will ensure that your system is kept virus free.  By doing this you will prevent system performance from dropping and your data won't get compromised.

2.Don't open unknown attachments in emails

Many viruses are sent as attachments in emails.  If you receive an email with an attachment do not open it unless you are expecting it and you know what it is.  if you have a virus scanner installed it should be configured to scan email attachments.

3. Update Windows regluarly

By using the Windows Update service or web site you can ensure that security flaws are patched and software updates are installed.  Microsoft regularly release updates for the Windows operating system and Office suite of applications.

4. Use strong passwords

It is always a bad idea to use passwords that somebody can guess.  Use something that is at least 6 characters in length, contains at least 1 number and a mixture of upper case and lower case letters.  It is also a bad idea to write them down unless they are kept somewhere secure like a safe.  Viruses often use brute force (tries until it succeeds) or dictionary attacks (tries every word in the dicrionary) to get past password protection.

5. Use a firewall

Any home computer or business network should be protected by a firewall, whether it be hardware or software.  A firewall will close all access to your computer from outside.

6. Do not respond to phishing emails

Phishing emails are designed to take you to a web site that asks you to login to your account for verification.  These are often sent pretending to be from banks, building societies or web mail providers and are merely replica sites that harvest login details to be used for fraudulent purposes.  Banks and building societies will never ask you to provide your login details through an email

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