{"id":51,"date":"2020-02-12T05:52:16","date_gmt":"2020-02-12T05:52:16","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/training.inukasystem.com\/?p=51"},"modified":"2020-02-12T14:50:09","modified_gmt":"2020-02-12T11:50:09","slug":"before-you-connect-a-new-computer-to-the-internet","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/training.inukasystem.com\/index.php\/51\/2020\/52\/12\/before-you-connect-a-new-computer-to-the-internet\/","title":{"rendered":"Before You Connect a New Computer to the Internet"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Why is computer security important?<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-regular-font-size wp-block-paragraph\">Because computers play such critical roles in our lives, and because we input and view so much personally identifiable information (PII) on them, it\u2019s imperative to implement and maintain computer security. Strong computer security ensures safe processing and storage of our information.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>How can I improve my computer\u2019s security?<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The following are important steps you should consider to make your computer more secure. While no individual step will eliminate all risk, when used together, these defense-in-depth practices will strengthen your computer\u2019s security and help minimize threats.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\"><li><strong>Secure your router.\u00a0<\/strong>When you connect a computer to the internet, it\u2019s also connected to millions of other computers\u2014a connection that could allow attackers access to your computer. Although cable modems, digital subscriber lines (DSLs), and internet service providers (ISPs) have some level of security monitoring, it\u2019s crucial to secure your router\u2014the first securable device that receives information from the internet. Be sure to secure it before you connect to the internet to strengthen your computer\u2019s security.<\/li><li><strong>Enable and configure your firewall.<\/strong>\u00a0A firewall is a device that controls the flow of information between your computer and the internet. Most modern operating systems (OSs) include a software firewall. The majority of home routers also have a built-in firewall. Refer to your router\u2019s user guide for instructions on how to enable your firewall and configure the security settings. Set a strong password to protect your firewall against unwanted changes.<\/li><li><strong>Install and use antivirus software.<\/strong>\u00a0Installing an antivirus software program and keeping it up-to-date is a critical step in protecting your computer. Many types of antivirus software can detect the presence of malware by searching for patterns in your computer\u2019s files or memory. Antivirus software uses signatures provided by software vendors to identify malware. Vendors frequently create new signatures to ensure their software is effective against newly discovered malware. Many antivirus programs offer automatic updating. If your program has automatic updates, enable them so your software always has the most current signatures. If automatic updates aren\u2019t offered, be sure to install the software from a reputable source, such as the vendor\u2019s website. (See\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/training.inukasystem.com\/index.php\/2020\/02\/12\/understanding-anti-virus-software\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" aria-label=\" (opens in a new tab)\">Understanding Anti-Virus Software<\/a>.)<\/li><li><strong>Remove unnecessary software.\u00a0<\/strong>Intruders can attack your computer by exploiting software vulnerabilities, so the fewer software programs you have installed, the fewer avenues there are for potential attack. Review the software installed on your computer. If you don\u2019t know what a software program does, research the program to determine whether or not the program is necessary. Remove any software you feel isn\u2019t necessary after confirming it\u2019s safe to remove. Back up important files and data before removing unnecessary software to prevent accidentally removing programs that turn out to be essential to your OS. If possible, locate the installation media (e.g., CD) for the software in case you need to reinstall it.<\/li><li><strong>Modify unnecessary default features.<\/strong>\u00a0Like removing unnecessary software, modifying or deleting unnecessary default features reduces attackers\u2019 opportunities. Review the features that are enabled by default on your computer, and disable or customize those you don\u2019t need or don\u2019t plan on using. As with removing unnecessary software, be sure to research features before modifying or disabling them.<\/li><li><strong>Operate under the principle of least privilege.\u00a0<\/strong>In most instances of malware infection, the malware can operate only using the privileges of the logged-in user. To minimize the impact of a malware infection, consider using a standard or restricted user account (i.e., a non-administrator account) for day-to-day activities. Only log in with an administrator account\u2014which has full operating privileges on the system\u2014when you need to install or remove software or change your computer\u2019s system settings.<\/li><li><strong>Secure your web browser.\u00a0<\/strong>When you first install a web browser on a new computer, it will not usually have secure settings by default, you will need to adjust your browser\u2019s security settings manually. Securing your browser is another critical step in improving your computer\u2019s security by reducing attacks that take advantage of unsecured web browsers.<\/li><li><strong>Apply software updates and enable automatic updates.\u00a0<\/strong>Most software vendors release updates to patch or fix vulnerabilities, flaws, and weaknesses (bugs) in their software. Intruders can exploit these vulnerabilities to attack your computer. Keeping your software updated helps prevent these types of infections.<\/li><li>When setting up a new computer, go to your software vendors\u2019 websites to check for and install all available updates. Many OSs and software programs have options for automatic updates. Enable automatic updates if they are offered; doing so will ensure your software is always updated, and you won\u2019t have to remember to do it yourself. Only download software updates directly from a vendor\u2019s website, from a reputable source, or through automatic updates.<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">What are some additional best practices I can follow?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">There are other simple practices you can follow to improve your computer\u2019s security.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\"><li><strong>Use caution with email attachments and untrusted links.<\/strong>\u00a0Malware is commonly spread by users clicking on a malicious email attachment or a link. Don\u2019t open attachments or click on links unless you\u2019re certain they\u2019re safe, even if they come from a person you know. Be especially wary of attachments with sensational names, emails that contain misspellings, or emails that try to entice you into clicking on a link or attachment (e.g., an email with a subject that reads, \u201cHey, you won\u2019t believe this picture of you I saw on the internet!\u201d). (See\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/training.inukasystem.com\/index.php\/2020\/02\/12\/using-caution-with-email-attachments\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" aria-label=\" (opens in a new tab)\">Using Caution with Email Attachments<\/a>.)<\/li><li><strong>Use caution when providing your information.\u00a0<\/strong>Emails that appear to come from a legitimate source and websites that appear to be legitimate may be malicious. An example is an email claiming to be sent from a system administrator requesting your password or other sensitive information or directing you to a website that requests your information. Online services (e.g., banking, ISPs, retailers) may request that you change your password, but they will never specify what you should change it to or ask you what it is. If you receive an email asking you to change your password, visit the site yourself instead of clicking on any link provided in the email. (See\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/training.inukasystem.com\/index.php\/2020\/02\/12\/avoiding-social-engineering-and-phishing-attacks\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" aria-label=\" (opens in a new tab)\">Avoiding Social Engineering and Phishing Attacks<\/a>.)<\/li><li><strong>Create strong passwords.\u00a0<\/strong>Use the strongest, longest password or passphrase permitted. Don\u2019t use passwords that attackers can easily guess, like your birthday or your child\u2019s name. Attackers can use software to conduct dictionary attacks, which try common words that may be used as passwords. They also conduct brute force attacks, which are random password attempts that run until one is successful. When setting security verification questions, choose questions and answers for which an internet search would not easily yield the correct answer (e.g., your pet\u2019s name). (See\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/training.inukasystem.com\/index.php\/2020\/02\/12\/choosing-and-protecting-passwords\/\">Choosing and Protecting Passwords<\/a>.)<\/li><\/ul>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Why is computer security important? Because computers play such critical roles in our lives, and because we input and view so much personally identifiable information (PII) on them, it\u2019s imperative. <a class=\"read-more-link\" href=\"https:\/\/training.inukasystem.com\/index.php\/51\/2020\/52\/12\/before-you-connect-a-new-computer-to-the-internet\/\">read more&#8230;<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[2,7],"tags":[23,37],"class_list":["post-51","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-it_and_security","category-understanding-your-computer","tag-good-security","tag-internet"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/training.inukasystem.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/51","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/training.inukasystem.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/training.inukasystem.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/training.inukasystem.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/training.inukasystem.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=51"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/training.inukasystem.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/51\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":85,"href":"https:\/\/training.inukasystem.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/51\/revisions\/85"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/training.inukasystem.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=51"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/training.inukasystem.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=51"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/training.inukasystem.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=51"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}