by Ben Clapton

Created on: May 15, 2010   Last Updated: May 17, 2010

Computers are a constant companion in today's modern world. Everything that we used to do can now be done with a computer - Phone calls, shopping, letter writing, researching, all through the computer and the Internet. While all of this has increased  the convenience for us, we have also increased security issues. The more often we are connected, the more we risk hackers and identity thieves accessing information we want to keep secret. The basics of home computer security are very simple, and with a little bit of work, you can ensure that your computer and your information stays safe.

The first, and most basic security measure is to not connect to the outside world. The most extreme version of this is to never connect the computer to the Internet. However, this is often not desired in most situations, so the next step is to only connect when you are using the computer. Keep the computer off or in hibernation when it's not being used, as if it's not on, then anyone who wants to get access to it has to be physically at the computer.

Secondly, when you are connected, ensure that you have sufficient protective software. Active Anti-virus protection is the bare minimum, and in reality insufficient on its own. You should also have a firewall and anti-spyware software.

Anti-virus Software

In terms of anti-virus software, there is a plethora of options available. Whether you choose a free or paid option, there are certain basics that you need to look for. Firstly, you should look at the update schedule. You want software that has a frequently updated database so that when viruses are discovered, your software will be able to block it as soon as possible. Secondly, you want software that has active scanning. What this means is that while full computer scans are still required for the best results, active scanning will scan files as they enter the computer to try and prevent viruses entering the computer. Finally, you want to be able to schedule full scans. Some programs require you to personally start a full scan, others allow you to schedule a daily, weekly or monthly scan to pick up viruses. This is ideal, so that you don't forget about starting the scans.

Firewalls

A Firewall blocks all traffic, except through certain ports that it allows. What this means is that only data that you know is safe will be transmitted. There are two types of firewalls - Hardware and Software firewalls. Hardware firewalls can come in the form of routers, or a specialised box that

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