http://www.us-cert.gov/sites/default/files/publications/TenWaystoImproveNewComputerSecurity.pdf
2
How Do I Improve the Security of My Home Computer?
Following are ten important things you can do to make your home computer more secure.
While
no individual step will completely eliminate your risk, together these practices wi
ll make your
home computer’s defense strong and minimize the threat of malicious activity.
1. Connect to a Secure Network
Once your computer is connected to the internet, it’s also connected
to millions of other
connected computer
s, which could, in turn,
allow attackers to connect to your computer.
Information flows from the internet to
your home network by first coming into
your modem,
then to your router
, which most people have
, and finally to your computer. Because your modem
doesn’t have security setti
ngs, it’s crucial to secure your router
—
the first securable device that
receives information from the internet. Be sure to secure it
before
you connect to the internet to
improve your computer’s security.
If you don’t have a router, contact your service pr
ovider to
learn how you can best secure your network.
The default configurations of most home routers offer little security. Though it may seem
cumbersome to spend time configuring your router’s settings, it’s well worth it because a secure
router is one o
f the best initial lines of defense. To secure your router, consult its user’s guide,
which will direct you to a predefined URL or IP address where you can do the following:
•
Configure the wireless network to use WPA2
-
AES encryption for data confidentiality
.
•
Change the default login username, if permitted (refer to the user’s guide), and password.
(The default passwords are published in manufacturer’s publications and are readily
accessible.)
•
Conduct
MAC
a
ddress
f
iltering (
a
form of whitelisting
, or identify
ing wirelessly
connected computers you trust
)
.
•
Change the default wireless SSID.
