From purchase to disposal: Tips for PC security

Feb 19, 2012, 3:06 GMT

Berlin - The safeguarding of your PC does not end with just a virus protection plan and a firewall. Individuals should think about security beginning at the time of purchase and all the way up to the disposal of the device, according to the German Federal Office for Information Security (BSI).

'PCs with the current Microsoft Windows can be safeguarded with just a few simple measures to make possible an adequately secure usage of the services of the internet,' the Bonn-based office announced in a compilation of concrete suggestions.

When buying a computer, individuals should make sure they have the most current hardware and the newest version of the operating system. That is currently Windows 7, though Windows 8 is expected to come out in the autumn. The BSI experts recommend a 64-bit processor because only special security mechanisms from Microsoft can be used with it. Pre-installed software which is not needed should be de-installed.

A free virus protection program is sufficient for adequate protection against malware, according to the BSI. The pay programmes did offer more comfortable controls and additional functions such as a child protection filter or selective supervision of the browser and email, but users should not forget about the requirement to extend the licence after 12 months.

And filters should be activated for the browser. The BSI alluded especially to the secure Sandbox technology from Google Chrome and wrote: 'Comparable mechanisms are either more poorly implemented in other browsers or do not even exist.'

No special backup software is necessary as long as the corresponding capabilities from Windows 7 are used. Users should think about external storage media such as DVDs or external hard drives when buying the PC. A backup of data is recommended at least once a week.

Internet security is also a duty of the provider. Therefore, individuals should not only look at the price, recommends the BSI. 'For example, you should ensure that the internet provider tries to actively protect you from internet crime,' wrote the BSI. One example in this case is the assistance of providers in the anti-Botnet initiative. A Botnet is a networking of infected computers which can be externally controlled and attack other computer systems without the knowledge of the owner.