The days of online security being primarily the concern of corporate, financial or government institutions has long past. Today, any person or enterprise with a PC and Internet access are under threat of imminent attack or compromise. If you are currently using the Internet or are about to connect for the first time, following these steps will help reduce your vulnerability.

Connecting to the Internet
Having implemented the steps outlined on the previous page, you are ready to connect to the Internet. If you are already a PC user and online, please review the steps from the previous page before you continue.

At this point, you will connect to the internet through a broadband or dial-up connection. Follow any instructions provided by your Internet Service Provider. Once a connection is established, we recommend the following steps be performed in the order given.

1.) First priority will be to visit the Windows Update site, scan your computer and install any Critical Updates and Service Packs listed in the scan results.

2.) Update your Anti-virus software (see your software documentation). It is crucial that Anti-virus software be updated on a regular basis. Most software includes an automatic update option; enabling this option is strongly suggested.

3.) If you are using third-party software for your firewall solution, consult your documentation, or the vendor website, for the proper updating procedure. Software manufactures often update their products in response to security and usability issues.

4.) If your machine came with Microsoft Outlook or Works installed, you should visit Office Update and install any Security or Service Pack updates that are needed.

We now have the basics in place, but it does not end here! In order to stay secure you must remain vigilant. Update your anti-virus software at least once a week, check Windows Update on a regular basis and check with your firewall vendor for any new patches or updates.

Even with the proper updates, antivirus software and firewall in place, you may not be adequately protected unless everything is correctly configured. The next step will be testing your configuration for vulnerabilities using some free online tools.

If you have any questions that need immediate resolution, please feel free to contact us via email or use our online form.