Basic Ways to Prevent Your Computer / Server From Being Hacked

When it comes to computer hackers, there are a few very basic ways to prevent your home computer or your server from being hacked.

1. Use a secure password
   1. Any password should be at least 8 characters long.
   2. No password should ever be on OR contain a dictionary word
   3. You should never use keyboard sequences (eg: qwerty, qazwsx, 987654321, 123) in any part of your password
   4. Never, no matter what, never ever share your password
   5. Change your password frequently (monthly is recommended by many, however I think every 4-6 months is fine)
   6. Never use passwords with just numbers. A  computer will start with the number 1, and add up to quickly figure out number passwords
2. Use Anti-virus and Anti-spyware
   1. Keep anti-virus and anti-spyware updated
      1. Subscription expired? No worries. Just get a free anti-malware program. I recommend Avast for Anti-virus first and foremost, and AVG second. AVG has fairly good anti-spyware protection built in. Microsoft Windows Defender is basic, but fine spyware protection.
3. Use a good firewall
   1. Both software and hardware firewalls are great to have.
      1. If you are on a high-speed Internet connection, make sure you have a good router with port filtering
      2. Make sure the password on your router is also just as secure as your computer’s password
   2. Windows XP and up have good built-in firewalls. You don’t need any other “special” firewall software.
4. Never leave unnecessary ports open, and never run un-used services.
   1. Close any un-used ports at a firewall and software level
   2. If you have a service, such as FTP on your server, and you do not use it at all (and you don’t plan to use it any time soon), disable it. Find other things such as this to get rid of as well.

Amazingly, things that you can do to protect your home computer are also the same things you can do to protect your server… and vice/verse.

For even more information about computer security, check out this website:
http://www.staysafeonline.org/

Basic firewall ports scan:
http://www.auditmypc.com/firewall-test.asp

Edited Last: December 1, 2009 at 11:24AM
Reason: Fixed URL Issues on a few links