Internet security
has become a major issue these days. The threat of viruses, spyware, adware, security
holes, and many other "bugs" have made a lot of people almost afrad to do anything
on the internet. People spend hundreds of dollars everyday on the latest firewall
software, hardware, anti-virus and spyware programs, and other programs just so
they have that peace of mind that they are safe. Yet, even though have the "latest
and greatest" in technology, you are still susceptable to security problems which
could very well cost you more than that $30.00 program you just bought
For those of you wondering how to secure yourself on the internet to prevent spam,
viruses, spyware, and any of the other security-related threats that internet users
face everyday, here is a list of the top 5 things that you can do to be safer on
the internet.
1.) DON'T click on web page links in emails - By clicking
on a link, you might be taken to webpage that looks identical to the one that you
were expecting to go to. However, you have actually been taken to a hackers website
that was made to look exactly like a legitimate site. Good examples of these sites
include emails supposedly from eBay, Paypal, your bank or financial institution, college, or any other site asking
for personal information. By entering your information (i.e. login username/password,
SSN#, bank account number, etc.), you are freely and willingly giving your information
to a hacker that will in turn steal your identity, money, etc. If you receive an
email that looks like it is from eBay, Paypal, your bank, etc. DO NOT click on the
link. Instead, open your internet browser, and manually type in the website address
that you would use to login. This eliminates the possibility of you giving your
information to someone who really shouldn't have it. How many of you clicked
on a link in an email to get to this webpage? Good thing we're not hackers
huh?
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2.) DON'T open email attachments
- Even if you know who is sending you the attachment, this is still a big problem.
In 1999 the famous Melissa
Virus was spread through
emails that came from someone the person knew, but that person never actually sent
the email. If you receive an attachment, contact the person that sent it and ask
them if they sent you an attachment. If you work in a office, and use email to send
documents back and forth, contact the sender and make sure that they actually sent
the email. Viruses cause thousands of dollars worth of damage every year, but can
be prevented by taking the necessary precautions.
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3.) Update your computer regularly - Every second Tuesday
of each month, Microsoft releases security updates to the Windows operating system.
These updates are VERY important, and should NOT be skipped. If there is an immediate
security problem, Microsoft will release what's called an "Out of Cycle" update.
These updates are for immediate security holes that appear throughout the remaining
days in between updates. For Windows XP and Vista, you should have your Automatic
Update Settings set to download and install the updates on a regular
schedule. This will ensure that your computer is constantly kept up-to-date if Microsoft
should release an "Out of Cycle" update. For those of you using the Mac operating
system, your updates are just as important. Use the Software Update
feature to keep your system up-to-date.
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4.) Use a hardware firewall - Most users have broadband internet
access available in their area. This type of connection is "always on" and usually
never protected. Regardless if you only have one computer, or an entire network
of computers, you need to have a hardware firewall protecting you from outside attacks.
These days, any router that you purchase has a built-in firewall to prevent outside
parties from accessing your internal network. By properly installing a router, and
configuring the security settings, you can be assured that you are better protected.
Wireless routers are ideal, and can be setup using WPA
encryption to prevent unauthorized
access to your wireless network. This allows you to connect a laptop, portable game
system, or other game systems to your network, without having to run network cable
throughout your house.
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5.) Download files from a known source - Downloading files
from the internet can also be potentially risky. However, don't be discouraged
from downloading a trial version of popular software titles, providing the download
is from a popular, well-known website. Sites such as Download.com, Tucows,
and other software search engines are usually safe, due to the rigorous test that
the applications go through before they are made available for download. These
days, peer-to-peer sharing sites are more popular than ever. There is a risk of
downloading a virus, spyware, adware, or other program when using these sites. We
do not in any way condone downloading illegal software, music, or otherwise copy-protected
files. However, if you choose to use these networks, be careful what files you choose
to download. Use common sense when looking at the file size. If that song that you've
been waiting to hear is only 197kb in size, it's definitely a virus, spyware, or
other. Also make sure that you anti-virus software is fully up-to-date before opening
any file that you download from anywhere.
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Other
security suggestions
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Numerous people have
asked us what security software we suggest to use to keep their computers safe and
secure while browsing the internet. The main thing to remember is that no matter
what software you buy, install, use, etc., your behavior on the internet is the
most important (see above). However, to answer these questions, we support and recommend
the following applications:
1.) Anti-Virus Software
BitDefender Antivirus v10
- This anti-virus program is the best that we have found to-date. It uses very little
system resources, and safely monitors all files on your computer on a continuous
basis. When compared to Norton, McAfee, and other well-known anti-virus solutions,
BitDefender Antivirus v10 came out on top. Running a close second on our personal
list is Nod32 which also displays the same protection characteristics,
but has been proven to scan files quicker than any other anti-virus we have tested.
We highly recommend both of the programs for your virus protection.
2.) Spyware/Adware
Ad-Aware SE - When it comes to spyware
removal, no one can compare to Ad-Aware SE. We have used this program for
years, and have been truly impressed with its ability to remove unwanted spyware
and adware. The free version is suitable for most applications, however for
approximately $30 you can upgrade to Ad-Aware plus for real-time protection.
Don't be fooled by those internet ads that you see claiming to rid your system of
adware and spyware. Over 90% of those programs actually have their own spyware
and adware that they install. Only Ad-Aware has been proven to be 100% clean,
and is the ONLY program that we
recommend and use.
3.) Spam Filtering
Spambayes - Of
all of the spam filters that we have used, Spambayes has clearly beaten all of them
hands-down. If you use Outlook or Outlook Express for your email, this is one program
that you definitely need to download. It is a free Bayesian spam filter, meaning it learns as
you use it. We have personally used this program for the last 2 years, and would
not consider using any other spam filter. Though it initially took about 3 months
of training emails as good or bad, there are very few spam emails that get by, and
into our inbox. But, we still highly recommend this program to battle your
spam problems.
4.) Registry Cleaners
NONE - In our professional experience for the last 15 years, we
have never found a registry program that we can honestly recommend. All of
the programs that we have tested (Registry Mechanic, Registry Doctor, Norton Utilities,
etc.) have actually caused more problems than they actually fix. The Windows
registry is a very sensitive area of the operating system. If your computer
has issues, and you suspect that the registry might be the problem, the best thing
to do is back up all of your important data, and reinstall Windows. We know
that this is a time-consuming, and often scary process, but it is honestly the best
solution to fix major computer problems. Don't be duped into paying $29.99
for a registry cleaner, when you are ultimately going to have more problems later
on than it's worth.
If you have any further questions about anything on this page, or question in general
about your computer system, please feel free to us the contact form on our site
and we will be more than happy to help you make the right decision.
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