A 4-Step Plan for Home Network Security
Wednesday, August 15th, 2007 Subscribe To Our Feed
In the physical world it has become normal to lock doors and secure homes, even while the car is on the drive and we are in the living-room watching TV. In cyberspace, however, our I.P addresses and hard drives are often not so well-protected as our real homes and addresses. Unless you have an up-to-date home network security, an experienced hacker will be able to get inside your network and gain access to key data that will enable him to defraud you of your credit rating, your bank deposits and even your identity.
On the positive side, a home network security system is simple to set up and very cheap to install and maintain. Most of the steps you have to take are more to do with getting into good habits - just like locking your doors - than relying on technology and personal expertise to protect your data. All you need to do is follow the following 4-step guide and you’ll be covered.
1. Install a Firewall
It’s a safe bet that your computer is attached to a broadband modem. This means it will always be connected to the Internet - it will never be off. A firewall provides home network security by regulating the access other networks have to your home network so that all interactions are carefully monitored and controlled.
Firewalls allow you to choose between the networks you want to connect to and those you don’t. The networks you choose not to contect to will be blocked, and any unauthorised attempt to connect to your network will not get through. Depending on your settings, you’ll get a message letting you know when any unauthorised activity is taking place. Some firewalls are bundled togther with PC software either as a free 30-day trial, or as part of the software package.
2. Install Anti-Virus Software
Anti-virus software scans your computer for viruses every time you boot up your PC. If it detects a virus, it either removes it or isolates it. As Microsoft operating systems are open platform it is fairly easy for a small piece of code to get in and duplicate itself, in turn infecting codes or documents on your hard disc. There have even been cases of viruses that have emailed themselves to everyone on the email programme’s contact list.
New viruses come into circulation on a daily basis, so it’s imperative to have a home network security system that will do the same. Again, there are some costly solutions on the market, but there are also free products which are perfectly adequate for protecting a small network.
3. Treat Downloads with Caution
Do you remember the case of the waterfall screensaver from the late 90s? Many people downloaded what appeared to be a benign programme. However, it turned out to be a Trojan Horse - there was a virus hiding behind the pretty screensaver that caused PCs to crash.
The simplest way to maintain your home network security is to avoid downloading applications from the Internet unless you are cetain they are safe. The big players such as Yahoo, UTube and Amazon are very careful about the applications they offer for download, and any reputable company absolutely must guarantee virus-free software. The sites to beware of are usually small, private sites that offer free downloads. If your firewall and anti-virus systems are well-functioning and up-to-date, you’ll be warned well before anything can get into your home network.
4. Guard Against Phishing
If you receive an email from a big Internet concern, such as PayPal or eBay, asking you to update personal account information, you are probably being phished. Clicking on the link they offer will lead you to a private site that will have been made to resemble the major-league site. Enter your information, and you will be defrauded. Simple as that.
However, phishing is not too hard to spot if you are on your guard. Firstly, big sites like PayPal and Amazon simply don’t ask you to update your information in this way. They will require you to login to their secure server to make any alterations to your account - they will never ask you to make changes by sending classified information to them by email. Always check the email address of the sender. It will never look quite as it should - maybe there’s a .net where there should be a .com for example. If you do receive such a mail, forward it to the genuine site concerned straight away, then don’t take any further action until you get a reply to THAT mail. Avoiding phishing is all about being on your guard - more a good habit than the implemention of a home network security measure.
Home network security is a relatively new concern. For the most part perpertrators are more likely to target bigger fish than the average home network. If you follow the four steps above, you will have a pretty comprehensive home network security system that won’t cost much work, time or money to maintain, and more importantly, you’ll have nothing to be frightened of.
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August 15th, 2007 at 8:43 pm
[…] The good news is that protecting yourself and your home against attacks from hackers is not a complicated or costly affair. In fact, by following a simple 4-step plan, you can secure your home network and relax. If you want to find out about Home Network Security and learn the 4 simple steps, pay a quick visit to Where We Live. […]