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Tech Tips

Prevention

Dec-08-2006

The best first steps in securing your PC are running an antivirus program and a firewall. Another critical part of prevention is operating system updates.

Antivirus

A antivirus program that is kept current and updated at least once a week should be installed on any PC that is connected to the internet. Here are some available programs.

Computer Associates offers EZ Armor antivirus, free for Road Runner customers. Select the link for Security and follow the instructions on the site.

Norton Antivirus

Macafee Antivirus available as a free online scanner and a commercial version.

AVG Offered as both free and a commercial version.

Avast4 Free for home use.

Kaspersky Labs

Trend Micro Online scanner and a downloadable commercial version.

Firewall

A personal firewall is also recomended for any PC directly connected to the internet. This becomes especially important when using an always-on connection like Road Runner. If multiple computers are plugged in, a router running NAT is recommended over a switch or a hub. This will give limited protection against other PCs on the internet making connections to your PC. This does not prevent unwanted outward bound connections that will be made by programs like trojans or e-mail worms on an infected PC.

The security suite from Computer Associates, created especially for Road Runner customers, includes a Firewall.

Manufacturers of common home routers are listed below.

Time Warner wireless provided and maintained by your local Time Warner technicians and includes wireless networking as well.

Linksys

Netgear

D-Link

Software firewall programs are also recommended because some of them prevent outward-bound connections as well as those from outside making connections to your PC. Software firewalls can be disabled by some viruses and Trojans but should be considered as a good second line of defense.

Manufacturers of some of the available software firewalls are listed below.

Norton

Macafee

Zone Alarm Offering both a free and a commercial version.

Tiny personal firewall

Sygate also offers a free software firewall for home use. Commercially available with more features enabled.

Time Warner Cable and Road Runner do not endorse or support any of the above products. They are listed for your reference and represent only a portion of those commercially available.

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	Security
	Read latest computer security information from our local experts