One of the biggest threats to computer security is malware, a new term for viruses and spyware. To protect against malware, it’s best to install Norton AntiVirus and at least one anti-spyware program. Two of the most popular such programs are Spybot and Ad-Aware; both of these programs are free and can be downloaded safely from CNet.com. Lots of people think it’s best to have both programs installed; from time to time, one program will find something the other one doesn’t. All three programs rely on a library of definitions that identify security threats, so it’s really important to make sure that those definitions are kept up-to-date. Norton AV can be set to update automatically and warn you when your definitions are out-of-date, but anti-spyware programs need to have their definitions updated manually. This is very easy to do, but the way in which its done changes slightly based on which program you’re using.

Once these programs are installed and up-to-date, you should make sure you’re running weekly or bi-weekly scans to make sure your computer is in good shape. This is a good idea on any computer with internet access, not just those using Wi-Fi networks.

Another basic security precaution Wi-Fi users should take is enabling a personal firewall. Windows XP comes with a firewall built in, but there are other programs available for purchase as well. Before setting up a personal firewall, students should probably talk to their school IT help desk to see whether personal firewalls will conflict in any way with the university network.

Students should also keep their operating system up-to-date. Windows can be configured to update itself automatically, but some students may find it easier to update their computers manually. In any case, downloading updates to the OS will correct any problems or vulnerabilities that may be discovered in the software and could be exploited by hackers.

Finally, students who own Windows XP-based computers should make sure that they set up password-protected accounts on their computers; in particular, XP users should make sure that they have set passwords for their Administrator accounts. Every XP computer has an admin account; some students aren’t aware that it’s there, but it can be exploited by people seeking outside access to your computer. Setting an administrative password will make the computer much more secure.

Taking these simple steps will help protect your computer and your privacy on the school Wi-Fi network.

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