Computer Safety Tips for Students

These computer safety tips can help protect the computers you use for school from viruses, hackers, spyware, and other attacks.

• Perform basic computer safety maintenance

Before you surf the Web, you should perform three key maintenance steps as a computer safety tips to help improve the computer's security.

1. Use an Internet firewall
2. Update your computer.
3. Use up-to-date antivirus software.
4. Use up-to-date antispyware software.

• Don't open files from strangers

E-mail and instant messaging (IM) can spread viruses and worms if you aren't careful. (Most e-mail viruses are spread by people who are tricked into opening an infected file.)

You should never open a file attached to an e-mail or an instant message unless you recognize the sender and you are expecting the file.

• Help fight spam and online scams

You can use technology to help keep junk e-mail from deluging your screen. To see how, read Help keep spam out of your inbox.

Phishing is another threat to your privacy that could lead to the theft of your credit card numbers, passwords, account information, or other personal data.

• Learn how to protect yourself from spyware

If your Web browser has been taken over by pop-up ads, or there are toolbars on your computer that you didn't download intentionally, your computer might be running spyware.

Spyware is software that collects personal information from you without first letting you know what it's doing, and without asking for your permission.

You might get spyware if you download music or file-sharing programs, free games from sites you don't trust, or other software programs from a suspicious Web site.This is one of the computer safety tips to learn.

• Take precautions when you go wireless

Many high school and college campuses have wireless networks, so you can surf the Web in the library, cafeteria, or a classroom.These networks are convenient, but they do come with a security risk.

• Password protect your computer—and lock it

Passwords are the first line of defense in protecting your computer from criminals, pranksters, or a careless roommate. If you don't use a password to log on to your computer, anyone can access your computer and unlock it.

• Back up your work

The image of students losing their term papers because they forgot to back up their work has almost become a cliché. Still, many of us don't have the time to back up.

By following the computer safety tips for students above and becoming actively engaged in your own security.

Computer Safety Tips

Achieving good computer security can seem like a daunting task. Fortunately, following the few simple computer safety tips outlined below can provide a good measure of security in very little time.

• Use antivirus software and keep it updated

You should check for new definition updates daily. Most antivirus software can be configured to do this automatically. This is the first computer safety tip.

• Install security patches

Vulnerabilities in software are constantly being discovered and they don't discriminate by vendor or platform. It's not simply a matter of updating Windows; at least monthly, check for and apply updates for all software you use.

• Use a firewall

No Internet connection is safe without one. Firewalls are necessary even if you have a dial-up Internet connection - it takes only minutes for a a non-firewalled computer to be infected.

• Secure your browser

Many labor under the dangerous misconception that only Internet Explorer is a problem. It's not the browser you need to be concerned about. Nor is it a matter of simply avoiding certain 'types' of sites.
To ensure optimum browsing safety, one of the best computer safety tips is to disable javascript for all but the most essential of sites - such as your banking or regular ecommerce sites.

• Take control of your email

Avoid opening email attachments received unexpectedly - no matter who appears to have sent it. Remember that most worms and trojan-laden spam try to spoof the sender's name. And make sure your email client isn't leaving you open to infection.

• Treat IM suspiciously

Instant Messaging is a frequent target of worms and trojans. Treat it just as you would email.

• Avoid P2P and distributed filesharing

Torrent, Kazaa, Gnutella, Morpheus and at least a dozen other filesharing networks exist. Most are free. And all are rife with trojans, viruses, worms, adware, spyware, and every other form of malicious code imaginable. There's no such thing as safe anonymous filesharing. Avoid it like the plague.

• Keep abreast of Internet scams

Criminals think of clever ways to separate you from your hard earned cash. Don't get fooled by emails telling sad stories, or making unsolicited job offers, or promising lotto winnings. This is also one of the best computer safety tips.

• Don't fall victim to virus hoaxes.

Dire sounding email spreading FUD about non-existent threats serve only to spread needless alarm and may even cause you to delete perfectly legitimate files in response.

By following the computer safety tips above and becoming actively engaged in your own security, you'll not only be protecting yourself, you'll be contributing to the protection and betterment of the Internet as a whole.