Hackers can be mobile, and many drive around town searching for unprotected or badly-protected wireless networks. There are also many free firewall programs that you can download online, many of which will provide good protection for your computer.įor wireless home networks, there are special security concerns that won’t affect wired networks or computers that plug straight into the wall. All Windows computers come with a firewall, called the Windows Firewall, that you can enable through the Control Panel. If you don’t have a network set up and your home computer connects straight to your ISP (or through a modem to your ISP), you can set up a firewall right on your computer. Depending on the router, you may be able to choose a security setting (low, medium, or high) or configure other options that will help to keep out unwanted guests. Go into the router’s configuration settings and enable the firewall. If you have a home network set up with a router that connects to your Internet service provider (ISP), that router should have the capability to act as a firewall. It only allows in what you tell it to allow, so a firewall is a good first defense against hackers, as well as against viruses and spyware.
#How to protect computer from hackers and viruses software#
Use the tips below to protect yourself and your data from hackers.Ī firewall is software (or occasionally hardware) that acts as a gatekeeper between the outside world and your home network. Hackers spend their free time hunting for unprotected networks, and if you don’t lock down your system at home, someone will find it and gain access to it. Good security policies are vital to the safety of your home computer, as well as to the safety of all of the personal data that you store on it.