Buy a Mac

When you buy a Mac you get a system with the best hardware available and highly dependable software out of the box. The only reason not to buy a Mac is cost. I have not found a single Windows app I can’t run on my Mac with a little help from VM-Ware. Is a Mac perfect? No, but is a lot closer to computing nirvana than any PC I have ever used.

If you can’t buy a Mac buy a PC With At Least

• Processor: Intel i5 minimum
• Memory: 8 Gb of RAM minimum
• Hard Disk: 250GB SSD or 1 TB Hard Disk minimum
• Monitor: 21”
• Windows 10

Best Practices

Passwords

• Adopt long passphrases
• Use uppercase, lowercase characters, and special characters
• Don’t re-use passwords on multiple sites. Especially financial sites.
• Avoid periodic password changes
• Create password blacklist
• Implement two-factor authentication
• Add advanced authentication methods such as fingerprints and facial recognition
• Store passwords in an encrypted database such as Apple Keychain 
• Protect accounts of privileged users
• Ensure a secure network connection

Security – What You Need

I hate all of the anti-virus products on the market today. I recommend Malware Bytes for your day to day security needs.

Make sure your computer has all current Microsoft security updates. http://update.microsoft.com

What Will Kill You!

Anything that says it is free will ruin your life! There is no such thing as free software you may not give them money, but you just gave away your computer and its contents.

Examples include but are not limited to the following:

• Anything that says it will optimize your internet connection, remove adware, or increase your PC’s performance in any way.
• Weather Bug – a good rule of thumb is to never install anything with the word bug in it on your computer.
• Precision Time
• Internet file-sharing applications such as BitTorrent. I recommend that you stick to Windows Media Player or iTunes. These are pay sites but they are inexpensive and well worth the money.
• Free Screen Savers
• Create a Monster (Hello!)
• My Daily Horoscope
• Anything that asks if your computer is running slow
• Anything that says free that does not come from a name you know
• Anything that says it will pay you to surf or offers rebates or coupons for anything such as Bargain Buddy
• With a few exceptions (Firefox), any alternate web browsers, or E-mail programs. (contact your systems administrator)
• Do not download any toolbars.

Safer Searching

Google – is now presenting people with a warning before they visit websites that distribute malware. Hopefully, this next step will bring us that much closer to fulfilling the mission of providing people with reliable, objective information about downloadable applications in order to help them make better choices.

What you can do:

• Use only highly trusted web services. When in doubt contact your systems administrator.
• If you have a question about any software contact your systems administrator before you install it.
• Check your firewall settings at Gibson Research’s Shields Up website.
• Malware Bytes – AntiVirus software is not enough. Malware Bytes is an excellent freemium Malware detection software. If you think you have a problem give this a try.
• Use stronger passwords. I know you have heard it again and again but your number one defense against computer threats and identity theft is a stronger password. Test your password to see how vulnerable it is at Gibson Researches Password Haystack page.