You finally have it! That system you’ve been dreaming of. That new Dell or HP with its large capacity hard drive and lightning fast processor. 2 of those 24 inch monitors and the blazing fast Internet connection. You are all set, right? Well hold on. How are you protecting your investment? Sure, it came with that 30-day free anti-virus software, and doesn’t that latest version of your operating system have it’s own firewall?

You need to think about protecting your hardware and bankroll a little better than that. <READMORE>

Researchers discovered that a malicious hacker installed spyware on computers in the latest Windows worm attack. Within 24 hours, the botnet hijacked more than 7,700 machines... slashdot.org

If the hidden program, or Trojan horse, is launched, it could then look for keywords on your computer, such as "password," "username" or "login," and send them to the thief's e-mail account...cnn.com

The prime objective for hackers and online thieves has shifted from largely hitting major corporate networks to gaining control of home desktops, both to steal data and collect processing power... cnn.com

An estimated 2 million people had had their checking accounts raided in the past year with strong indications that online thieves were responsible for the majority of incursions...msn.com

The number of companies reporting spyware infestations has jumped 50 percent in the last year alone, and now nearly 92 percent of companies report that they have found spyware on their networks…New York Times.

I work in the computer security field by day and play poker by night, and I wouldn’t dream of playing on a machine that I didn’t feel was at least adequately protected. At a minimum, I'd say you need at least 4 layers of security.

The first layer is a hardware firewall. I use a wireless router with a built in firewall. There are several brands and types you can purchase, including many for less than $100. You can purchase them from your local Wal-mart / K-mart, area electronics stores, and of course, online. This type of router allows you to connect multiple computers to a broadband Internet connection, both wireless and wired, while protecting your network behind a hardware firewall. Some of the larger brand names are Belkin, Linksys, Netgear, and D Link.

The second layer is anti-virus software. There are many different brands and flavors of anti-virus software. Most of today’s computers come equipped with this software – but make sure you check, because the majority of time, these are only 30-day trial versions, and you need full time protection. Once again, there are several outlets to make this purchase, but there are also some freeware versions you can find on the Internet. A google search and a little bit of time can yield a very cheap alternative. Store bought brands offer better technical support and easier to use interfaces, and they can be purchased for as little as $30. Norton, McAfee, ZoneAlarm, and Panda are a few of the bigger names and applications like AVG and avast! 4 Home Edition can be used for nothing, provided you meet their eligibility requirements.

The third layer is a software firewall. This type of firewall protects each individual machine, and each can be configured for different functions. You may not want the same type of protection on your computer as you want on your kid’s computer. Again, there are several outlets you can turn to for this purchase, but there are also freeware versions of software firewalls available on the Internet. You can purchase it individually (for as little as $30) or as part of a security pack with your anti-virus software. You can purchase Norton, McAfee, ZoneAlarm, BlackIce, and others, or you can spend a bit of time searching the Internet for freeware like Sygate, ZoneAlarm, and Komodo. (You may have noticed ZoneAlarm mentioned twice – you could purchase one version or download a free version. The differences are in the bells, whistles, and ease of use.)

The fourth layer is anti-spyware. Spyware loads nasty little programs like key-loggers on your machine. A key-logger does exactly what it sounds like. It records every keystroke you make and transmits that data to some far away server. I know I don’t want my user ID's and passwords sent to some unknown person. Anti-spyware can again be purchased individually for less than $30 as part of a security package, or it can be found as freeware on the Internet. SpySweeper, Spyware Doctor, and ZoneLabs are some of the bigger names, while Spybot, Ad Aware, and others can be found using google.

These 4 levels are my minimum requirements for safe computing.

Now that you have spent the time and money to protect your investment, make sure you update the individual applications and your operating system often. New hazards are discovered every day, and you’re only protected as far as your last update goes.

You might mistakenly believe that if one anti-virus and firewall is good, then two must be better. However, often the different applications will fight over control of the system and slow your machine down quite a bit. You can mix and match the brands between the different types of applications (I may use one brand of firewall and another brand of antivirus), but only install and use 1 of each application.

I don’t want to make any specific recommendations on what you should use and purchase here, because I don’t know you or how you use your system, but if you spend a little time talking to your local experts, reviewing the trade magazines, or even your asking your ISP, I believe you will find the right combination for your home network.

I personally have 3 computers protected with these levels, and I spent less than $75 and maybe 10 hours of time.

You worked hard for your systems and bankroll. Make sure you have protection.

If you have any questions or comments feel free to contact me.
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