Five Tips for Securing Your Programs
Here's how to stay safe and keep your applications up-to-date without spending the time to become an IT expert.
Turn on automatic updates: If a program supports this crucial feature, enable it. Windows Update takes care of patching Internet Explorer, and Firefox 1.5 has its own automatic update. You should have the program ask you before it applies the change, though, just to stay on top of what's going on with your computer.
Lock down IE: Update your browser settings for maximum security. Select Tools, Internet Options, click on the Security tab, and choose Custom Level for the Internet zone. Disable ActiveX controls, set Java permissions to high, and disable 'access to data sources across domains'. Also disallow 'paste operations via script'.
Try a third-party service: VersionTracker's Web site lists available patches for a wide range of applications on PCs, Macs, and even Palms. For $30 you can download VersionTracker Pro, which scans your installed programs and provides easy patch downloads for out-of-date apps. BigFix offers a free consumer program that looks for application flaws and other vulnerabilities
Stay informed: Get the latest security news and analysis delivered to your electronic doorstep by subscribing to an RSS feed from antivirus software maker Kaspersky or from Internet security company Sophos.
Do it yourself: Set a once-a-month calendar reminder to check for updates from within the program (if it allows that) or to look for patches at the maker's Web site. It's worth the nagging.
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