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Here are some simple ways
to protect your data

In the past few weeks the media has been laden with stories about the theft of tens of thousands of credit card numbers from a major corporate Web site.

Obviously there's not much we can do about companies who are lax when it comes to protecting their clients' data.

However, that does not make us powerless when it concerns our own security.

Unfortunately in the past, Windows PCs have been particularly targeted and vulnerable when it comes to hackers, virus writers, digital vandals and shady businesspeople.

Microsoft has continually taken steps to correct the holes in its Windows platform, but you still need to fend for yourself.

In this column I'd like to suggest some steps you can take to protect your data.

» Get a good firewall. You're going to need more of a firewall than what comes stock with Microsoft XP. There are a number of good software firewall programs out there (including a free download from ZoneAlarm from www.zonelabs.com) that stop hackers from getting in and prevent spyware programs that may be on your PC from sending information out.

» Stop viruses.

You've got to run an antivirus program. Recently I saw that ZoneAlarm Internet Security (which includes antivirus, firewall, and antispam apps built in) got great reviews, but programs from Norton or MacAfee or Computer Associates should also be good. Figure on spending about $50, including a year of updates.

» Stop spam.

Purchase an antispam program. None are perfect but consider MailFrontier Desktop, available for $30 at www.mailfrontier.com. It's had good reviews both in the Wall Street Journal and CNET.

» Stop spyware.

Spyware has become just as troublesome as viruses and you'll need to run an antispyware program such as Spy Sweeper from www.web-root.com, Pest Control from Ad-aware (www.LavaSoftUSA.com) or Spybot-Search & Destroy (safer-networking.org). There are free versions of some of these products, which are quite useful, or you can purchase the standard ones for around $30.

» Switch browsers.

Consider dumping Microsoft's Internet Explorer Web browser, which has a pathetic history of security problems. Try Firefox, which is free of charge (at www.mozilla.org) and has some very cool features such as tabbed browsing, which permits you to view multiple pages on the same screen. It also has an excellent pop-up ad blocker.

» Be prudent.

Don't open e-mail attachments unless you know who sent them, and don't download software that has uncertain origins. Be careful of special plug-ins needed to view software.

» Stay up to date.

If you haven't yet installed Service Pack Two (SP2) from Microsoft, do so post haste. Make sure your "critical updates" from Microsoft are also installed.

» Buy a Mac.

It may seem like a copout for longtime PC users, but Macs are terrific machines and for the time being seem to be immune from the kinds of security breaches affect Windows.

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