A firewall program is an application that limits the types of connections that the rest of the world can make to your machine. While this can be very helpful in keeping your machine safe, buying and setting up advanced firewall programs can make using your machine difficult, as they require more computer savvy than automatic updates and Anti-virus applications. However, newer operating systems, and most notably Windows XP and Macintosh OS X, have a built-in firewall that is very easy to use and should not interfere with your normal use.

Once you've ensured that there are no gaping holes in your machine's defenses, it's time to think about taking action against anything malicious that might slip through. This is where an Anti-virus application becomes necessary. Columbia students, faculty, and staff are provided with a free license for Symantec AntiVirus. This software can be installed both at home and in the office.

Years ago, malicious software was, for the most part, simply intended to cause chaos or file destruction while massaging the ego of its writer. Now, the situation is somewhat different. Malicious software is created with the intention of financial gain, with the creator being paid for every advertisement he can pop up on your desktop, going to market with your private information, or even assuming your identity to make purchases. This sort of software is referred to as "spyware".

No matter how many walls are placed around your machine, there is always a key for complete access: your password. There are countless programs that attempt to determine passwords, both by guessing common ones and by randomly generating possibilities and trying them all, or a combination of the two.

Never share your password with anyone, not even a relative or colleague. If another person has your password, they can, for all computer purposes, be you. This extends far beyond simply reading your email. At Columbia, this would include sending email as you, gaining access to sensitive financial or health information, and changing where your paycheck goes, and is considered a serious policy violation. But it's just not a smart thing to do anywhere.

Enabling firewalls and keeping your operating system patched are very effective methods of protecting your data from threats on the Internet, but do not prevent someone from sitting down in front of your keyboard and gaining access to sensitive information. If you're walking away from your machine, use a screen saver with a password lock or simply log out of your operating system. Be suspicious of anyone you don't know attempting to gain access to a computer in your area.

Most filesharing networks are used for moving large amounts of content that people can't legally have without a purchased copy. Getting caught receiving or distributing copyright protected content by its owner could mean a lawsuit, and would definitely not go over well with your dean or your department.

No matter how careful you are, how much money you sink into your machine, or who you contract to keep it up and running, bad things happen. Despite being thoroughly acquainted with all of the pages on this website, something can sneak through your defenses. Also, all hardware will eventually fail, and having another copy of your important documents can avoid some nasty consequences.

Always be skeptical, especially of things that are free. Chances are, you didn't just win a lottery without buying a ticket, and a foreign oil magnate is not going to give you ten million dollars for laundering his money. These types of "phishing scams" seem to be spreading more frequently and are becoming more intelligent. Now, scammers send email claiming to be from a bank or some other trusted online institution and beg, cajole, or threaten us to give them our account numbers and PINs. They even can include links to webpages that look exactly like the real thing. If you ever receive a message like this, and you think it may be legitimate, bring up your web browser and type the URL that you are already aware of. Don't trust the email message to contain any valid information, and don't follow links to modify your online accounts.

Symantec and McAfee are making a play to help mobile operators secure consumer-oriented phones. Both companies have recently made plays around mobile security; McAfee with the release of McAfee VirusScan Mobile, and Symantec with the launch of Norton Smartphone Security, which provides complete protection for both Windows Mobile and Symbian devices in one product. The United States hasn't seen as much in the way of viruses and attacks targeting mobile devices, but the trend may touch North American shores soon enough, said Paul Miller, managing director of mobile security at Symantec.