Firewalls are one of the most basic forms of computer protection, so it should come as no shock that many computers now come with a firewall built in. What is shocking is the amount of malware, viruses and spyware that is infecting computers on a daily basis despite this. If you want to protect and secure your company machines and personal information, maximize your firewall in the following ways:
Make Sure Your Firewall is on
The first step to maximizing your firewall is to enable it (if you haven’t already). Navigate to the security and privacy settings from your system preferences menu and turn the firewall on to prevent unauthorized applications, programs and services from accepting incoming connections. If you don’t have a firewall already, you’ll need to install one.
Enable Automatic Updates for Your Firewall
It’s challenging to stay ahead of the latest malware attack when so many new forms are being created daily. Enabling automatic updates for your firewall will help your computer fight off new and incoming viruses when your system updates or downloads something new. Make sure the automatic update is timed to take place during a time when your computer is connected but not in heavy use.
Supplement Your Firewall With an Anti-Virus Program and Pop-up Blocker
New malware is aggressive, so your approach to blocking it should be too. Your firewall needs some backup! To further block untrustworthy third party sources, install an a reliable antivirus program and spam-blocking software. When you’re browsing the web, choose your browser wisely. Firefox is a good choice because it comes with a built in pop-up and spam blocker.
Strengthen Your Passwords and Change Them Frequently
If you have the same simple password for all of your digital accounts, you’re going to run into a problem sooner or later. “I know, I’ve been meaning to change those…:” Sound like you? Hackers thrive on the password procrastinators. For maximum protection, create passwords that are long, structured as a combination of numbers/letters/symbols and made up of fake words (don’t use a single dictionary word, it’s too easy). No two passwords should be the same!
Need Help Maximizing Security? Certified CIO Can Help Protect You!
At Certified CIO, we understand the complexities of cybersecurity risks and how to best protect your business from a costly attack. We will provide you with a hardware firewall that is virtually guaranteed to keep out any intrusions, hackers, malware, or system attacks. We also specialize in remote monitoring and maintenance, managed security services, disaster recovery, CIO support and more. Call us today at 443-283-0666 or contact us here for more information.
