Security while your browsing the World Wide Web
If Lineon Security is an Issue for You Then the Following Suggestions Will Certainly Help
These suggestions will help you stay safer when you’re online
Welcome traveler to our continuing hubs on Internet security, if you’ve been hopping back and forth across the ocean of information referred to as the World Wide Web by most of us, then the safety of the vehicle you use to transport the information to you is probably of utmost importance to you. The following rules of the Internet-road will help keep your vehicle safe while you’re using it to transport the information to you for viewing.
1. Firstly always make sure to activate any protection your system might have, most operating systems or security software have firewalls, a spam blocker, or other included security features, but you need to make sure their on for them to work. We have found the firewall included with Windows Vista to be adequate for most security problems existing on the Internet, but then Microsoft has sold the majority of operating systems on the market today and therefore Internet security is more of a pressing issue for Microsoft. Reviews point to Mac PC’s lacking in security power, but then Apples are certainly less targeted by cybercriminals and hackers. You can download a free firewall for Windows XP, ZoneAlarm 7.0, if you go to www.download.com and search for it you should find it. Also make sure to activate spam filtering and any online protection provided by your ISP or e-mail service provider, such as Yahoo, Google, or MSN, most of these programs are good enough to catch spam if set properly.
2. The annoying pop-up reminders you have been ignoring or telling to remind you about your need to update your security protection later, will be a little more welcome if you get one of the newer viruses your old security software was never programmed to recognize, so make sure to update and renew as soon as you realise you need to. Set your computer to automatically update security software as it becomes available. All spam, spyware, and virus-protection software incorporate “rules” or “definition” files that must be updated periodically for them to catch the newest threats. If your computer is disconnected from the Internet for extended periods of time, make sure that automatic updates are occurring, or update them manually yourself.
3. Each generation of Windows is certainly more secure then the last, so if you’re running Windows XP or earlier Windows versions; consider upgrading to the more secure Windows Vista operating system. Windows Vista allows users to surf in a protected cocoon-like environment, which prevents online threats from injuring your operating system and contains a two-way firewall that blocks both incoming and outgoing threats (the outgoing firewall could use a few improvements to make it work better according to reviews). We suggest you at least upgrade to the Internet Explorer 7 or Firefox 2 web browser both will inform you about known forged, or “phished” Web sites.
4. Any well protected fortification could use a good secondary line of defence and we suggest you install a free toolbar with security features, there are many on the Internet. The EarthLink Toolbar (www.earthlink.net/software/free/toolbar), for example, incorporates a spam and popup blocker, spyware scan, and home page protection for its users. The Netcraft antiphishing toolbar (toolbar.netcraft.com) warns about known phished sites and can tell you a site’s hosting company and even its registered owner, we sure well be seeing more of such innovations in the future. When you go to a site after installing McAfee Site Advisor (www.siteadvisor.com), the program tells you whether the site has been tested by McAfee, what it found in the way of viruses, spyware, spam, pop-ups, phishing, and consumer marketing scams. This program even overlays site reports on Web search results it obtains and automatically blocks access to sites that exploit any browser weaknesses.
5. Leaving a computer connected via the Internet for extended periods of time when it’s not being used is not recommended by experts. So turn off your computer when you don’t plan on using it for awhile (or at least disconnect it from the Internet) this will reduce the chance of malicious remote-computers accessing your data and you’ll save money on energy costs, not to mention the environmental benefits.
6. Always use public computers like their more of a threat to your data, because they are, make sure to avoid computers at libraries, hotels, or airports for conducting financial or other personal business if absolutely possible; otherwise some cybercriminal could be making hay with your information. The same can be said for using your computer on a public wireless network, especially if you’re not on a secured Web page or haven’t disabled your PC’s computer-to-computer connections.
7. Consider buying a Mac computer if your main fear is viruses or spyware because Mac computers have far less to fear from these threats, unfortunately, you’ll still have to deal with spam and phishing as Macs are just as susceptible to these threats as Microsoft PC’s. On line cybercriminals don’t target Mac computers like they do Windows-based PC’s because the return on their investment is potentially far less.
8. Always watch what you’re downloading from the Internet, the collection of free utilities, games and other software on the Internet can be useful, but many are loaded with viruses and spyware for free also. Only download from well-known manufacturers or trusted sites like the ones at www.download.com, www.snapfiles.com, and www.tucows.com.
9. The simplest way to get complete protection is to select one of the security suites we will be recommending in up coming hubs. Just remember if you go this route that you maybe paying extra for duplicate components already on your computer or available free on the Internet. We recommend having a minimum of 1GB of RAM memory to prevent the suite you choose from slowing down your computer though.
10. Purchase a good antivirus software program and run it every day, it will actually work and your going to need it if you spend any serious amount of time surfing the Internet ocean. This is true no matter what operating system you use or brand of computer, as all computers are currently susceptible to computer viruses and spyware. Also they will prevent computer virus laden files from being spread from Macs to PCs.
11. Designers of spyware are particularly diligent in their work, spyware is so subtle and possibly dangerous, that we feel it deserves double protection and we use the two best antispyware software programs on our systems. Set the better program to block spyware in real time and use the second one to scan anything you suspect might be infected with something the first program might have missed.
12. Here is a trick I use to use when I was a freelance writer to thwart spammers. If spammers are driving you crazy, set up disposable e-mail addresses that can be used for varying purposes. For instance, use “warrenshopping2008” for making online purchases of goods or services, then when the In box at this e-mail address gets constantly filled with unwanted spam, just abandon it or change it. Many ISP’s provide extra “associate” e-mail addresses that can be changed whenever you want, just make sure you ask or check. We do suggest that you configure your e-mail program to check all your addresses simultaneously, unless it’s the highlight of your day and you to slow down and savour your mail. You can even set up disposable accounts at a free e-mail service like Google or Yahoo, I have, just make sure you guard the primary e-mail address you got from them, because your primary can’t be changed without abandoning your entire account.
13. If you often purchase services or goods online, it’s a good idea to use a credit card. They actually offer better protection then other choices when making online purchases. Today some issuers will let you generate virtual account numbers that are only valid for a single purchase with a fixed dollar limit, so the risk is reduced even further. If you use these virtual numbers you won’t have to give online retailers your permanent credit card number to make a purchase.
14. Never assume any certified (remote) site you visit is secure and safe to use for business. Yes it’s vital to have a secure connection when sending or receiving personal information online (indicated by “https” before the Web address and a padlock or other icon on your browser), but this is no guarantee the Web site conducts business reputably. Similarly, certification symbols from the Better Business Bureau, the Federal Trade Commission (as people recently found out in one well publicized scam), and similar organizations provide some reassurance (never assume their being used with the knowledge and certification of others). But these things are no substitute for protecting yourself by reading any small print, researching a site by talking to friends and checking online reviews, and independently typing the Web site address yourself and not relying on a hyperlink to take you to where it says it is going to before turning over credit card numbers or personal information.
15. Never respond to any e-mail message for personal information of any kind no matter how official it looks, legitimate organizations tasked with caring for sensitive information of this kind would never do so with an e-mail, and if they ask you to call a telephone number, verify the number belongs to the organization independently.
16. In order for the problem of phishing, or any Internet scam, to be corrected we must all report instances of such behaviour to the proper authorities. If you receive a phishing e-mail, immediately forward it to the Anti-phishing Working Group (reportphishing@antiphishing.org), the Federal Trade Commission (spam@uce.gov), and the company or organization that is being impersonated and you will be doing your part. You should also file a complaint with the FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center at www.ic3.gov and if your antiphishing toolbar didn’t recognize the fraudulent Web site, make sure to report the site to the toolbar provider and they will make sure it does.
17. The last suggestion we would like to make is to constantly, regularly, review all your credit card and bank statements as soon as you get them and report anything suspicious without hesitation.
Well that’s it for this hub on how to keep your Internet vehicle and your personal information safer while you’re operating your vehicle on the Internet highway. Join us next time as we will bring you our picks for the best software suites, antivirus programs, antispyware programs, and antispam software on the market. Until then traveler, happy hubbing!
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