Equipment Leasing Specialists

Business owners, personal-computer owners, and even 5 Point Capital team members alike all experienced a slight rush of panic towards of end of March 2009, as the dreaded Conficker virus threatened to close in on our personal information and safety. Luckily, Conficker did not cause nearly the amount of damage it could have, due in large part to the safety precautions taken by computer-users everywhere.

However, just because we dodged the Conficker virus bullet does not mean we should ignore computer safety measures, or that the threat has passed. Five Point Capital would like to offer you a reminder that it is always good practice to ensure that your computer is fully protected against viruses and hackers, along with a few tips for how best to do so.

The first tip Five Point Capital would like to offer you is to make sure your computer’s Firewall is turned on. You can check to see if your Firewall is on or off, and switch between the two, under your computer’s Control Panel or Security Center. Though you may occasionally have to turn your Firewall off (to receive files from third-party sources, like your company shared server), it is a good idea to leave the Firewall on as often as you can. Do not turn off your Firewall unless you absolutely must in order to receive files from trusted third-party sources, and always turn the Firewall back on immediately once file-sharing has ended.

Five Point Capital’s second piece of advice is: check the websites for the Operating Systems you use. For most people, this is Microsoft or Apple You should also check for updates from your computer manufacturer, such as IBM, Dell, or Apple. Search for any security updates these websites offer for your operating system (i.e. Windows XP, Windows Vista), and for your computer model (i.e. IBM ThinkPad T43). As holes in software are discovered and as security measures and techniques are improved, these companies will offer free upgrades for users, to ensure maximum possible virus and hacker protection.

Third, get anti-virus software. We over here at 5 Point Capital know that the economy is tight and anti-virus software is probably the last thing on your mind (and budget), but just remember: it will be a lot less expensive to invest once in anti-virus software than it will be to replace your laptop, personal files, and any lost passwords, credit card numbers, or PIN numbers. Purchasing anti-virus software is certainly not reckless spending; it is a smart move that can protect your personal information and save you from having to shell out much more in the future to recover from an attacked computer.