How Can I Block Internet Access on My Computer From Outsiders?

Your home network and its connection to the Internet is a gateway into your computer, giving someone with malicious intent the ability to potentially access your stored data and accounts. Hackers can get into your network to send spam, traffic in copyrighted material or conduct other cyber crimes and have it all get traced back to you. While you shouldn't be afraid to use the Internet, taking advantage of the security tools available to protect your home network available will help keep you -- and your computer -- safe.

ANTI-MALWARE / ANTI-VIRUS

It's also important to protect your computer from dangerous websites, file attachments and the like. Installing an anti-malware or anti-virus program and periodically scanning your computer to catch anything that it misses is also crucial. While you can pay for protection software, free programs like AVG Anti-Virus Free, Avira Free Antivirus and Malwarebytes' Anti-Malware can keep you safe without costing you a penny. These programs stop outsiders from installing software that could damage your computer or compromise your privacy. (ref 1)

WIRELESS SECURITY

One of the best ways to compromise your home network's security is to leave your wireless network unsecured. The safest option, of course, is to turn off your Wi-Fi, but it's not a realistic one for most people. However, you can achieve a great deal of security by turning on your router's second-generation Wi-Fi Protected Access security system. WPA2 requires a password of at least eight characters to login and encrypts your wireless traffic, locking your network down. When you set up WPA2 encryption, though, make sure you choose a secure password. If your password is "password" or "abcd1234," it'll be easy to guess and will negate the benefit of having encryption in the first place.

ROUTER FIREWALL

Blocking malicious Internet traffic at the network level is also a good way to keep your home computers free of unwanted outsiders. Without a firewall, a computer connected to the Internet is like a hotel with no locks. Anyone can go in anywhere. A firewall locks everything down, then unlocks a few ports to everyone, much like the lobby, restaurant, and meeting rooms at a hotel, and leaves everything else locked unless you have an already-approved reason to be there. This is analogous to a hotel limiting its pool to guests, its executive hospital suite to guests of a certain floor and limiting each room to the person who is renting it for the night. By locking down your network. you make it essentially impossible for outsiders to come in.

COMMON SENSE

Your home network is only as safe as you make it. If you, for example, allow your children's friends to come in, use your connection, and download pirated or dangerous content, your entire network can be compromised. Just as you want to secure your Wi-Fi from outsiders, it's a good idea to pay attention to who is using your network and what they're doing. Even if they don't have malicious intent, inadvertently downloading the wrong piece of software or opening the wrong attachment could still do a lot of damage.