Month: April 2017

Categories
Computers

7 Security Tips to Keep Your Computer Secure – Part 2

7 Security Tips to Keep Your Computer Secure

Continuing from Sandford Tuey’s Part 1 article, here are the next four Security Tips. Should you want to read the first 3 Security Tips click here.

  1. Divulging Secure Sensitive Information Can Be Harmful

Never reveal your sensitive information on websites you are not sure are real and secure. Be extra careful of anyone or companies requesting funds or payments, even if you have dealt with the company for years. It is common for criminals to send you fake invoices and bills demanding payment. Be extra careful when you pay anything or give out financial data, passwords or a Social Security Insurance Number.

Disconnect from any suspected website or online connection and head to the real website you have visited before or phone and confirm that the company asking for your info or charging you is the actual real company you normally deal with. You should also be careful when you are using social media like Facebook, Twitter, Google and Instagram. It is alleged, that beside the minefield of criminals and their deceptive tactics, that International Intelligence companies are shareholders in many internet groups, like the ones mentioned above.

Revealing innocent information like your pet’s name, mother’s maiden name or short number combinations or common words can help identity thieves. Also, do not use personal known info as your security questions on websites, they could be figured out and tested until they choose the one that works.

  1. Avoid Opening Unknown Email

Never open email or attachments from suspicious or unknown sources. Contact directly any family, friends or especially strangers on your contact list and be even more wary of those that are not. Anyone’s account can be hacked and could be used to approach you or those on friends and contact lists. If an email from someone you regularly communicate with has a suspicious link or a suspicious URL and unusual content, delete it immediately. Then alert the authorities and person that his or her account may be compromised. Prevent phishing and hacking by bringing in a professional representative at Max Pro-Tech to protect you from becoming a target.

  1. Use Secure Strong Passwords All the Time

Don’t let your computer, laptop or mobile device remember your password if it prompts you to do it for any reason. It is more secure for you to enter the password and entry email every time. That way if someone steals your device, they cannot easily access your accounts. Well worth the extra time to get into your important accounts like your online financial institutions, secure servers, Intellectual Property accounts, legal counsel accounts, etc.

  1. Warning Rogue Websites

Clandestine Rogue websites are difficult to detect and very dangerous to click on or enter. Check for the Green lock in the address bar, then ensure the code prefix ‘http://’ at the beginning of every URL, especially when logging into financial Institution sites, entering your Debit card, Credit card info or when accessing email. Always be careful shopping online at websites that are located or ship items from overseas. Clicking on unknown links in your email Inbox is very dangerous and it is best to go directly to their website to check them out first.

Give yourself a protective shield with Max Pro-Tech. We can double-check your internet security and anti-virus software testing to confirm you are protected from spyware, viruses, malware and can even ensure all your parental controls you have downloaded or recently purchased are active. Become certain that you are as safe as possible, by letting a professional security analyst check your systems.

Categories
Computers

7 Security Tips to Keep Your Computer Secure – Part 1

7 Security Tips to Keep Your Computer Secure

By Sandford Tuey

If you have concerns about the security and safety of your computers, laptops and mobile devices, there are a few things you can do to protect yourself and your confidential data a secret.  By keeping your Antivirus software current and ensuring you use strong complex passwords for your online financial institutions, cloud storage, Skype, online internet accounts, changing them regularly can protect your data from nasty hackers and malware.  Keep the identity thieves from accessing your tech by checking out the following tips:

  1. Test Your Firewall

Check your firewall by testing the Wifi modem and internet provider by giving them a call and find out what kind of equipment is compatible with their company’s security products.   If you have a Windows Operating Systems (especially Windows 7 or 10), locate your control panel and type ‘Firewall’ in the search area.  Ensure your firewall is on & connected.  For Mac users, click on the Apple icon located on your toolbar, click on ‘System Preferences’, then ‘Security’.  Make sure you have a recent firewall product, it is the first line of defense and is considered the moat and thick stone walls around your computer fortress.  It is the most important first line of defense against identity theft and other evil entities lurking out on the web.   Sharing your folders, digital music & video data may be intercepted or stolen, send them on a secure network or use encrypted software.   Disable File and Media Player should you fear your files or folders will be intercepted, duplicated compromised and even viewed by other anarchist users with top of the line computer machines.  To be secure contact Max Pro-Tech to secure everything and set your concerns aside.

  1. Back Up Data Constantly

Your data is extremely important to you and if you own a small home business, critical to your success.  Protect all your data by Backing Up often (every day or once a week at the latest).  You can schedule this in your Backup program and it is recommended to have it repeat and have it conduct this while you are sleeping or late at night when you do not normally use your devices.  If your computer, laptop or mobile device crashes or they are plugged in and there is an electricity power surge or an electrical outage, buy a CSA approved Surge Protector with multiple outlets, it is better than just being plugged directly into a wall socket.  Should you fall prey to a Ransomware attack, don’t panic.  Immediately call the RCMP and report the crime, then contact Max Pro-Tech to keep your encrypted sensitive data secure.  They will want you to unlock your computers so they can research who and where the attack originated from.   Backing Up manually is too unreliable, so program your devices to do it automatically.  At the least, Back Up once a week (at the latest) on a repeating day so you can transfer important files, documents and folders to an external hard drive, or use a server outside your premises or even a virtual Cloud system.   If you have a limited amount of data to store, use a service like Dropbox, where you get 2GB of storage for free.

  1. Don’t Trust Deals That Are Too Good to Be True

When you locate deals that are surprisingly low priced or a major discount from regular retail prices, beware, their products could be counterfeit or not deliver them at all.  Deal with only reputable, well know entities online.  You may regret giving your Credit card information to a foreign website and then have to deal with your Financial Institutions for a longer time than desired.   Notify and warn all your contacts to correct your mistake and not open anything from you until your problem is corrected.  Don’t be embarrassed, contacted Max Pro-Tech to secure your data from professional Identity thieve, so they cannot assume your identity, destroy your data, hurt your credit rating by draining your savings or opening up new accounts (in your name) that you are not aware of.  Never trust any unknown users because you cannot trust anyone or especially if deals are too good to be true.

To view the remaining ‘7 Security Tips To Keep Your Computer Secure Part 2’, it will be made available within a week of this post’s publishing date. If you do these 7 things repeatedly and as often as you can, it will help provide a secure online experience.