Flaws or vulnerabilities in software applications are another cause for concern, as they can make an attacker’s job easier, without them even needing to insert programs or code on the victim’s computer. In these cases there is usually a solution or ‘patch’ available before most users have even realized that a problem exists. All software manufacturers are constantly updating products to protect against possible errors, so it is well worth being aware of these issues and applying the updates where necessary. If in doubt, the manufactures website is usually a reliable source for the latest information and all license holders are entitled to download these updates. So there are good reasons for avoiding pirated software after all!

Speaking of updates, remember that all antiviruses should be updated regularly. How often? Well this really depends on the manufacturer. Each vendor will no doubt recommend updating as soon as a new update is available –logically-, but bear in mind that 15 or so new viruses appear every day, waiting two or three days before updating an antivirus can prove to be an increased risk.

Another practical security measure is the installation of a personal firewall. Firewalls constantly monitor activity across all ports on a computer. It is possible to configure the firewall to keep a specific port closed or to warn when someone is scanning open ports

These tools are generally not easy to configure, and they are not simple to configure, which is why they are not recommended for basic users. Reading the user guide carefully before installing and configuring your personal settings can save you valuable time.

Solutions


To stay on top of security when connected to the Internet, there are several systems for finding out exactly what is happening to your PC at any moment. If you have a personal firewall and an up-to-date antivirus installed, much of this monitoring is carried out automatically by these applications.

That said, it is still worth checking the security levels in your browsers. In most cases, security settings in a browser can be configured according to a wide range of security criteria, from accepting almost everything to rejecting all but the most trustworthy information. A balance between security and practicality is normally the most advisable.

A powerful tool, called NBSTAT, exists which lets users monitor open connections on their PCs. Simply using the parameter “-a”, you will be able see all active connections on your computer. For example, type “NETSTAT –A” and you will see the following:

TCP FCUADRA:1588 WWW.PANDASOFTWARE.COM:80 ESTABLISHED

The information after TCP, is the type of protocol used, the first word indicates the name of the local machine, followed by the port in use. This is followed by the website and port to which you’re connected and finally the connection status.