Get Set for Security
So you and your family are proud owners of a new computer. And you want to get the most from it. You want to catalog your digital photos, create DVDs to send to your friends and relatives—and create that family Web site you've been promising your overseas relatives for years. You want to have fun.
But maybe you’ve had a computer before, and failed to keep it up to date with the latest security and performance updates. You know that experience could have been better, and you don't want to repeat that mistake.
Or maybe it's your first home computer—at least the first one you've connected to the Internet. You've probably read a lot about the risks that are lurking online, and you want to make sure that your new system is safe and secure from the start.
Use It, or Lose Your Information—and Maybe a Few Nights' Sleep
Unlike batteries, which are not always included in the gadgets you purchase, security software usually is included with a new computer. But it won't do you any good if you don't install it and use it.
According to the second annual AOL/National Cyber Security Alliance (NCSA) Online Safety Study, 81 percent of home computers lack at least one of the three critical protections — updated anti-virus software and spyware protection, and a secure firewall. All three are necessary to help guard against viruses, spyware, hackers, and other threats. Don't be part of the 81 percent.
