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Protect your computer

Take steps to ensure that your computers are safe.

Install antivirus software

There are three types of infections:

Viruses

Worms

Trojan horses

All three are infections because they exist on your computer without your consent and exhibit malicious activity such as slowing down or corrupting your computer data, making the files on your computer open to hackers or identity theft, slowing the speed of your Internet connection, hosting illegal websites on your computer, crashing email or Web hosting servers, sending spam email, and infecting other computers.

Maintaining up to date antivirus (or AV) software is essential for the security of your computer. Anti-virus software protects computers by scanning files and email for infections. The software can also scan computers to detect existing infections. While not a guarantee, up to date antivirus software greatly increases the chances of protecting computers from infection as well as removing anything that may already exist.

AV software must be kept current to be effective. New infections appear on the Internet daily.

We recommend setting up automatic updates and periodic system scans. Most antivirus software has settings for automatic updates. Computer users can also schedule regular scans with the software.

Install a firewall

A firewall acts as a barrier between your computer and the Internet. It stops unwanted data requests to your computer and permits legitimate requests. Compare it your home's front door. If you didn't have a front door, intruders could come and go as they pleased, stealing and damaging your property. A firewall becomes the door keeper to your home network.

Firewalls allow you to come and go on the Internet as you want but keep others out.

Most unwanted activity can be in the form of port scans which are attempts to find and exploit vulnerabilities on your computer.

Exploits can be used to infect your computer with a virus, access files, steal information, corrupt the computer, or turn your computer into a relay to hide hacker activity.

Microsoft has compiled an extensive firewall FAQ: http://www.microsoft.com/protect/computer/firewall/faq.mspx.

 

Wireless security

Wireless security is a way of protecting your wireless network connection from unauthorized users. Wireless devices will scan for available networks to connect to within range. This range varies because of equipment up to 500 feet. That means neighbors (especially in apartment or dorm situation) within range can connect to your internet service if you do not protect your network.

You are responsible for any activity on your Road Runner account even if you are not the source of the activity. It is the responsibility of the account holder. As an example, if a neighbor connects to your unsecured wireless network and downloads or distributes copyrighted materials (movies or music), you are responsible for his activity.

If they get caught, the activity can be traced back to you as the owner of the account. You could be held responsible. Unauthorized users connecting through your unsecured network can infect computers with viruses or Trojans. You could be held responsible for that activity.

There are five ways to protect your wireless network.

1. Enable Wireless Encryption Protocol. It is a password in hexadecimal format (numbers and letters) and from 64-bits to 128-bits in length. WEP passwords of 128 bits are stronger than 64-bit passwords.
2. Some routers offer WPA encryption. It uses a long phrase instead of a password. A long phrase can be easier to remember.
3. MAC filtering bans all computers from connecting to your network except for the computers you add to the allow list. MAC filtering is more advanced and requires that you record the MAC address of each device connected to the network or added to the list.
4. Give your network a unique name. The router default is usually the name of the manufacturer (Examples: Linksys or Netgear). Change the names to something more specific or unusual. Unique names make it easier for you to identify your own network and distinguish from a neighbor's network -- especially if your neighbor has the same router manufacturer as you!
5. To hide your network altogether, do not broadcast the SSID network (usually by deselecting that option in the configuration screen).

For specific instructions or general help about setting up security on your network's router, contact the manufacturer.