Anti-virus software

Ensure your PC / Laptop has anti-virus software installed and that it regularly updates, much of this software now comes as a suite which will provides a 1 stop solution to computer security.

Click here for reviews of anti-virus software.

Windows updates

Microsoft provide quite regular updates to XP, Vista and Office these correct any security problems they have found in the Windows software. If you do not install the critical Windows Update files immediately after they are released by Microsoft, your computer could be compromised by a worm / virus that takes advantage of vulnerabilities in Windows. The easiest way to make sure you do all the necessary updates is to set your computer to download the updates automatically.

Click here for further advice on updates

Restricted User accounts for children

Set up user accounts for each of your children so that they can customise their own background, organise their work and save their Internet favourites in a personalised area. You can also restrict this account so that they are unable to install software and this allows you to ensure no illegal or dubious software (that might compromise your system security ) finds its way on to your PC / laptop.

Click here to watch a Youtube video showing you how to set up restricted accounts for your children.

Filtering home content

Young children may come across inappropriate content by accident when doing searches or by clicking on the wrong links on a page. You can minimize this in several ways but please be advised that a 'blocking attitude' to E-safety is not a solution in itself and that it is important to discuss appropriate / inappropriate content allowed at home and what a child should do if they come across this.

A simple solution to do this with very young children is to set up sites they use in the favourites in their browser (probably Internet Explorer) and teach the child to access websites from this list. Other sites can be added as the child needs them. Click here for a simple youtube tutorial

You can use Internet Explorer (IE) to filter content and so prevent websites being directly input or searches delivering inappropriate content by using Content Advisor in the IE options. You will need to set up a password for this and if you or somebody else in your house uses this machine they will have the same restrictions applied to their browsing; this can be frustrating. Click here to access the Microsoft guide

Other third party filtering products are available at varying prices. Please not that any filter will not filter out anything and often filters out content you do wish to access. Click here for the top 10 filtering products.