"The internet is just not a safe place.
" Still, security online is not as high of a priority to many people as it probably should be.
In this article, scenarios will be throw out and ideas of how to protect yourself will be given.
Viruses and Hackers It is quite likely you know someone who has been attacked by a computer virus.
These guys are no more welcome than the flu virus in humans.
What can be done to keep these things at bay? The easiest solution is to use an anti-virus.
There are some excellent free options out there such as AVG, avast!, and Avira.
Also, there are some excellent paid subscriptions you can get from Kaspersky as well as those mentioned above if you subscribe to the "you get what you pay for" line of though.
An anti-virus will detect and remove any virus that infiltrates your system.
Also you could try using a program like SuperAntiSpyware or SpywareBlaster to give you some additional security.
A firewall is also nice to have.
You can obtain a free firewall from ZoneAlarm or Comodo.
The only reason I haven't mentioned full-service programs such as MacAfee or Symantec (Norton) is because there have been a lot of reports of these slowing systems down significantly.
Especially if you have an older system, I would recommend going with one of the services I have mentioned.
Also, please remember that Microsoft will never email you about updates.
All updates can be downloaded from the Microsoft Updates website.
Identity Theft Unfortunately, this problem is not as easily solved as the problem of viruses.
There are, however, some steps you can take to prevent this from happening to you:
- You haven't won the Nigerian lottery.
I know it's heartbreaking, but I promise this is a scam to get your personal information and money.
In general, if it seems too good to be true (especially in the online world) it almost certainly is. - Use a service like PayPal to pay for your online purchases so your credit card number isn't flying around the internet.
- Handle as much business as you are comfortable with over the phone or in person, such as paying bills and anything regarding your social security number.
Use of your social security number would be well-advised to only be done in person. - Check your credit report regularly.
If someone has managed to steal your identity, this will likely give you a good indication.
While this is not by any means a complete list, it contains some simple precautions you can take to give yourself an advantage.
Protecting Your Children For children, the online world can be a scary and confusing place.
There are so many bad influences out there, you need to safeguard them against some of those dangers.
This is where a service such as Net Nanny comes in quite handy.
You can set filters for what your children can and cannot see and access and track what they do access.
Keeping them from seeing bad things is only the beginning of the battle, though.
There is the very real possibility that they will run into a sexual predator.
The anonymity provided by the internet allows this to be all too easy.
While there is no 100% cure-all for this, there are steps you can take to help reduce this risk:
- Keep an eye on any social networking sites (MySpace, Facebook, Twitter, etc.
) they visit or have profiles with.
This is one of the largest markets for sexual predators as it is absolutely full of unsuspecting children and teenagers.
Keep an eye on what they do there. - Be aware of who they are talking to online via instant messenger (AIM, Yahoo!, MSN, etc.
).
This is a place where predators can make children feel secure because they think they are talking to another person their own age; they might not be. - Most importantly: Talk to your children.
Engage them in a conversation about what they are doing online and who they are talking to.
Make sure they are not meeting people online who they plan to meet in person.
A conversation can help a lot.