Keep your computer and data safe

As scams and hacking become more prevalent, having the best computer security is important for peace of mind.

In this article we’ve collected a few of the most common security problems and the ways to fix them – usually in just a minute or two.

How much protection? – Windows 7, XP, Vista
Q I have Microsoft Security Essentials installed on my computer. Will I be more secure if I install another anti-virus program?

A You should run one anti-virus program, one anti-spyware tool and one firewall, but no more than one of each. At best, running more than one of these programs will slow the computer down and at worst they could interfere with one another.

Disable macros – Windows 7, XP, Vista
Q I use Office 2003, which has a macros tool, but I’ve heard that these can be unsafe. How can I disable them?

A This option is set separately for each program in Office but the menus are in the same place. Click on the Tools menu, Macros and then Security. Set this to Medium to be prompted whether to run a macro, or higher for even more security at the cost of some documents not working properly.

Viruses in Linux – All Linux systems
Q I’ve moved from Windows to Ubuntu Linux. What anti-virus tool should I install?

A At present there is no need to run anti-virus software for Linux, but using software such as AVG Free will prevent any email viruses from being forwarded. Don’t forget to be vigilant against phoney websites and phishing scams, as these can trick users of any operating system.

Check for updates – Windows 7, XP, Vista
Q Windows can check for updates, but is there a way to check all the other software on my PC?

A Checking each program’s website individually can take time. One alternative is a program to check for you. Try Secunia PSI.

Blocking adverts – Windows 7, XP, Vista
Q I use a dial-up connection to the internet. It’s slow, and the adverts on websites slow it even more. Can I remove them?

A All the major browsers block pop-up adverts, but to remove other adverts you’ll need an add-on. We recommend Adblock Plus for Firefox.

Mystery emails – Windows 7, XP, Vista
Q Dozens of emails have appeared in my inbox that appear to come from me but with a odd first name such as sales@mywebsite.co.uk. What’s going on?

A The good news is that these aren’t really from your address: it’s very easy to fake the address an email is sent from, and it’s a common tactic used by the senders of junk email. The bad news is that you will need to delete them.

Suspicious updates – Windows 7, XP, Vista
Q I installed what I thought was a Microsoft security update on my computer but turned out to be a virus. Now I am frightened to download any updates in case this happens again. How can I tell the difference between these updates?

A Only ever download updates directly from Microsoft. The safest way to do this is to use the Windows Update tool built into Windows, but if you must go directly to the internet visit the Windows Update website.

Deleting files permanently – Windows 7, XP, Vista
Q Before I pass on an old USB memory key I want to make sure that all of my information has been properly erased. How can I do this?

A Deleting the files isn’t enough, nor is formatting. The only way to be sure that the files have been removed is to use a program such as Eraser. This will overwrite the documents so many times that they cannot be recovered.

If you have problems with networks, hardware, software or Windows, have a look at these articles, where you may find a solution:

Solve Windows problems
Solve network problems
Solve software problems

Solve hardware problems

Baffled by jargon? See our free online Jargon Buster.