FREE Independent advice on buying and maintaining a home computer - PCAdviceNow

PC Security

There are a couple of easy ways that you can help maintain the security of your computer.

• Make sure that your computer is configured to receive automatic Windows Updates

To do this in Windows XP:

Click on your Internet Explorer Icon on your Desktop

In the taskbar click on Tools and the drop down to Windows Update and click

This will launch the Microsoft Website and check your PC for recent updates, after a short while you will be asked to select from a list and then download the updates.

Always select all from the list and then download.

Your PC may already be set up to receive automatic updates, to check this in Windows XP:

Click on Start and then Control Panel

Click on the Security Centre Icon

Update to allow automatic updates if this has not been set

Microsoft spend many thousands of days producing updates, they are your right as a licenced user and will help maintain the performance and security of your PC.

• Configure your PC to require a user name and password to log on.

If your computer is stolen / mislaid for whatever reason it should at least be secure so that if another person boots up the PC they can't immediately get access to your files, records etc.

A friend of mine has recently purchased a good laptop and they used it for online shopping, banking etc.

They had a little trouble remembering their log on's and passwords for all their various accounts so they created a word document with them all listed! How helpful!

So not only did the laptop not require anyone to log in, within 30 seconds anyone could get access to the word document and assume the original owners identity!

You would not believe how common this is!

To secure your computer using in this way is an absolute must!

To do this in Windows XP:

Click on start and then control panel

Click on user accounts

Then create an account / password that you will remember!

Switch off your computer and then log back in immediatley so that you get used to typing in the password.

Its as easy as that!

Taking the above minimum precautions should help keep you computer secure.