Zod tips

Secure your computers

Whether you're online or offline, it's possible to turn your computer into a "lockbox." We have some simple methods to keep your hard drive closed against prying eyes and make sure you haven't left any back doors open for hackers to sneak through. Seal your PC as tight as a drum with these five tricks.

Plug the holes
Your software could usher in viruses, thieves, and hackers. For example, viruses often take advantage of security breaches in Microsoft Outlook to propagate, and the company's own Web browser was accused of letting in bugs. To help you patch all the holes in your software, set up a schedule to regularly check the company Web sites of any software you're running for security updates. Microsoft's update page, for example, regularly posts patches, fixes, and updated information about the company's products. If you don't have the time to do the legwork yourself, download and install a utility to do it for you.

Choose good passwords
You use passwords for just about every online chore, from checking e-mail to ordering goods online. But those passwords are just the keys some hacker is looking for, so you should make sure they aren't easy for someone else to guess. And to make matters more difficult, your passwords--especially for e-mail, work networks, and some Web sites--should be easy for you to remember. Don't write them down or send them in e-mail messages where a thief could intercept them.
Our advice: Use a combination of letters, numbers, and punctuation marks, such as my3carsrold or iwas18in75. This makes it harder for thieves to guess your password and can foil software programs that try to untangle password decryption. Your passwords should be at least 10 letters for maximum security. You can also alternate uppercase and lowercase letters if the password system is case sensitive. For example, some systems recognize hello as different from Hello, HeLLo, or HellO. (When you're setting up passwords for Web sites, most will tell you whether the site is case sensitive.) And never, ever use your name, your spouse's name, the name of your pet, your phone number, your birthday, your favorite food, or any other personal information hackers could easily guess. Get the picture?

Protect your ports
What's the biggest open door on your computer? It's called a port, a virtual door through which your computer reaches out to the Net. Hackers can use homegrown software to scan for open ports on your computer. When they find an open port--if you're on the Net and not protected by a firewall--they can break in and use your computer at will. Watch out for such attempts with port-monitoring software.

Secure your folders
If you're worried about someone snooping around in your computer, such as a hacker or your pesky little brother, learn to lock sensitive folders on your hard disk--especially those that contain personal, financial, or medical data or networking information about your computer. The best method? Encrypt them. That way, even if a hacker finds his or her way through your ports, the snoop won't be able to read your private information.

Total firewall protection
The most comprehensive way to secure your computer--well, aside from Internet abstinence--is to install a firewall, software that protects your computer while you're on the Internet. As long as you're willing to spend some time installing and configuring firewall software, it'll pay off in the end.