10 Fast and Free Security Enhancements

Before you spend a dime on security, there are many precautions

you can take that will protect you against the most common

threats.

1. Check Windows Update and Office Update regularly

(_http://office.microsoft.com/productupdates); have your Office

CD ready. Windows Me, 2000, and XP users can configure automatic

updates. Click on the Automatic Updates tab in the System

control panel and choose the appropriate options.

2. Install a personal firewall. Both SyGate (_www.sygate.com)

and ZoneAlarm (_www.zonelabs.com) offer free versions.


3. Install a free spyware blocker. Our Editors' Choice

("Spyware,") was SpyBot Search & Destroy

(_http://security.kolla.de). SpyBot is also paranoid and

ruthless in hunting out tracking cookies.

4. Block pop-up spam messages in Windows NT, 2000, or XP by

disabling the Windows Messenger service (this is unrelated to

the instant messaging program). Open Control Panel |

Administrative Tools | Services and you'll see Messenger.

Right-click and go to Properties. Set Start-up Type to Disabled

and press the Stop button. Bye-bye, spam pop-ups! Any good

firewall will also stop them.

5. Use strong passwords and change them periodically. Passwords

should have at least seven characters; use letters and numbers

and have at least one symbol. A decent example would be

f8izKro@l. This will make it much harder for anyone to gain

access to your accounts.

6. If you're using Outlook or Outlook Express, use the current

version or one with the Outlook Security Update installed. The

update and current versions patch numerous vulnerabilities.

7. Buy antivirus software and keep it up to date. If you're not

willing to pay, try Grisoft AVG Free Edition (Grisoft Inc.,

w*w.grisoft.com). And doublecheck your AV with the free,

online-only scanners available at

w*w.pandasoftware.com/activescan and

_http://housecall.trendmicro.com.

8. If you have a wireless network, turn on the security

features: Use MAC filtering, turn off SSID broadcast, and even

use WEP with the biggest key you can get. For more, check out

our wireless section or see the expanded coverage in Your

Unwired World in our next issue.

9. Join a respectable e-mail security list, such as the one

found at our own Security Supersite at

_http://security.ziffdavis.com, so that you learn about emerging

threats quickly and can take proper precautions.

10. Be skeptical of things on the Internet. Don't assume that

e-mail "From:" a particular person is actually from that person

until you have further reason to believe it's that person. Don't

assume that an attachment is what it says it is. Don't give out

your password to anyone, even if that person claims to be from

"support."