Core Protections

The NCSA promotes the three “Ps” or three protections that every
computer connected to the Internet should have installed. This software
suite, which sometimes can be purchased as a package, is your frontline
defense against cyber criminals and intrusions.

Every computer should have the following three core protections installed:

• Anti-Virus Software
• Firewall
• Anti-Spyware Software

Installing these software packages is step one. Equally important is
keeping them up to date. New threats emerge daily and quality software
packages come with subscriptions that allow you to update your defenses
on a regular basis. In most cases, you can set the software to retrieve
the updates automatically. Set your system for these automatic updates
so you don’t create extended periods of potential vulnerability.

In addition, your computer runs an operating system and if you surf the
Internet you use a browser as well. Both should be updated regularly.
Many of the updates address security issues and updates can usually be
scheduled to run automatically.