Gateway NE572 User Manual page 56

Keep your computer current with the latest patches and updates
One of the best ways to keep attackers away from your computer is to
apply patches and other software fixes when they become available. By
regularly updating your computer, you block attackers from being able to
take advantage of software flaws (vulnerabilities) that they could otherwise
use to break into your system.
While keeping your computer up-to-date will not protect you from all
attacks, it makes it much more difficult for hackers to gain access to your
system, blocks many basic and automated attacks completely, and might
be enough to discourage less-determined attackers, so they will give up
and look for a more vulnerable computer elsewhere.
More recent versions of Microsoft Windows and other popular software
can be configured to download and apply updates automatically so that
you do not have to remember to check for the latest software. Taking
advantage of auto-update features in your software is a great start toward
keeping yourself safe online.
Protect your computer with security software
Several types of security software are necessary for basic online security.
Security software essentials include firewall and antivirus programs. A
firewall is usually your computer's first line of defense-it controls who and
what can communicate with your computer online. You could think of a
firewall as a sort of "policeman" that watches all the data attempting to
flow in and out of your computer on the Internet, allowing communications
that it knows are safe and blocking "bad" traffic such as attacks from ever
reaching your computer.
56 - Internet