E-mail Filters

     Configure e-mail filters on your e-mail software.  Most applications, such as Microsoft Outlook, include the capability to filter e-mail on a number of criteria, such as who sent the e-mail.

     A good practice is to set up a filter to retain the addresses that you expect to receive e-mail from then forward all other addresses to either a SPAM directory or the Deleted Items directory.  This strategy takes some effort to set up and maintain but the results are well worth the effort.

Unknown Senders

     Do not open e-mail received from unknown senders or e-mail with a blank subject line.  One typical method for a hacker to gain access to a computer is to send an e-mail to the prospective victim.  When the victim (user) opens the e-mail a rootkit may be downloaded permitting the hacker to take control of the computer.

Embeded Links

     Do not click on embedded links in e-mail from un-trusted senders or those who you do not know.  Embedding a link in an e-mail is another method that hackers use to gain control of computers.

Parental Controls

     Activate parental controls in the web browsers that children use to access the Internet.  Parental controls and content filters permit parents to approve or disapprove of the content children view and the activities that children participate in over the Internet.

Firewalls

     If your operating system includes a firewall, like Microsoft Firewall or Windows Defender, then take advantage of the firewall to help prevent viral infections from the outside world.  Hardware firewalls are also available and some of these even contain content filters. 

The Barracuda Web Filter is designed to enforce organizational Internet usage policies through content filtering, application blocking, and best-of-breed spyware protection. It also facilitates automatic removal of spyware from previously infected Windows PC’s with the integrated Barracuda Spyware Removal Tool (Baracua Networks, 2009).

Wireless Routers and Access-points

     Wireless routers and access-points are becoming quite common in the household.  If you use one of these devices at home then turn on security and encryption for traffic to and from the device.  This will help ensure that nobody could read intercepted information and also helps prevent your Internet connection from being hijacked. 

     You do not necessarily need the most powerful device on the market.  If you only need the device to communicate with devices in other rooms in the house, less than one hundred feet away, then you do not need a device with a range of 1000 feet.  Using a device with a range of 1000 feet would permit a user on another block to surf the web using your connection, especially if security is not turned on.

Web Browsers

    
     Upgrade your web browser when new versions become available unless you have a valid reason not to.  Some web sites may not support the newest version and if you frequently visit a web site that does not support the latest release of your browser then that would be a valid reason.  Otherwise upgrade your browser because newer releases are inherently more secure than their predecessors.