Internet Security Configuration

If you are responsible for your job area’s computer security, you probably know who to talk to and where to get the necessary equipment and support for securing company servers, networks, and programs. But if you are an individual PC user who is relatively new to the idea of protecting your computer from hackers, viruses, and spam, you may not be sure where to go for help in checking your machine’s security devices to be sure they have been installed properly and are doing their job as you want them to. Fortunately, there are free services available to help you check your system and ensure it has adequate protection. In 2002, the Cyber Security Research and Development Act asked the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NISI) to create and periodically update a checklist outlining recommended settings and option features to reduce the risk of security threats to Federal Government computers and software that would probably become widely used. Companies and organizations that use a checklist like this one, combined with the effort to partner with experienced installers and service technicians to perform periodic upgrades, has been shown to have a positive effect in decrease the depth and breadth

of problems associated with security threats. It is generally a good idea to check on a regular basis your computer’s configuration for security devices and controls. If you are unsure about how to do this, or if you would like to get assistance in developing a checklist for personal use, get in touch with your computer software service technician to seek help or ask questions. Often you can get verbal updates for free, or you can pay a consultant an hourly rate to check over your computer system and recommend any needed security configuration changes or upgrades. Then make a point of checking your settings every so often to get the best protection for your hardware and programs.