The OneMinute Geek:

Security vigilance

The Problem:

If you are an avid reader of this column and have followed my recommended security measures—installing operating system updates, using a firewall and having good anti-spyware and antivirus software—you may think your computer is ready for the real world.

However, security is a never-ending battle. Just when you’ve conquered one evil-doer, there is another ready to take advantage of you. So what else can you do to protect your computer from intruders?

The Solution:

The key is to be vigilant about the latest threats. One way is to visit Microsoft.com, click on Security and see the latest updates on security breaches. Do a search for the 5-Minute Security Advisor and you’ll find helpful step-by-step instructions and how-to guides on everything from “hardening” Internet Explorer to selecting a virus scanner.

Microsoft even does its best to segregate the information according to your level of understanding. Beginners can read up on topics such as How to Setup Firewalls for the Home Office and Configuring Your Computer for Multiple Users. More advanced computer users can read about Configuring Outlook Web Access and Recovering Encrypted Data. Poke around the site. It’s an excellent resource in spite of its Microsoft bias.

Also worth visiting is Steve Gibson’s site: www.grc.com . It offers information on security breaches and software to prevent them, including a free download called Shields Up! This utility offers a quick and easy way to test the security of your computer.

your computer's security perimeter can get technical. The above sites are relatively straight forward and offer little risk for the newbie wanting to learn more about security. If you have a question, or run into any problems, just send me an email to help@supergeeks.net.

If you run through the Shields Up! test, you’ll notice references to "ports." Your computer’s ports are like extensions on a telephone. When you call a company, you use their main office number, which is then routed to an individual extension. In the case of your computer, the IP (Internet Protocol) address is its main number and individual programs are the “extensions.” Each program is associated with a specific port or a group of ports. There are 65,535 ports on your PC. Any evil-doer who wants to gain access to your PC via the Internet must go through a port.

James Kerr is President/CEO of SuperGeeks, a Hawaii-based computer service and repair company (www.supergeeks.net). Please feel free to send your questions, comments and suggestions to Mr. Kerr. He can be reached at kerr@supergeeks.net and 942-0773.