How to Protect Yourself from the Net!

Almost every aspect of our lives has been integrated with the computer and the Internet. Our emails, family contacts, shopping online, flight reservations, medical records, work documents, and even financial records have found their way onto the information highway.

Our intention of making our lives easier through the Internet has also made us more vulnerable to the evildoers and hackers of the world.

Theft and harassment are some of the misdemeanors that any Internet user could be a victim of.  Now, more than ever, we need to protect ourselves and our family from this potential harm. Here are some tips for your Internet security.

1. Knowledge is Power
Learn as much as you can about the Internet. Books, magazines, and, of course, the Internet offers a lot of information about Internet security.

Try to learn more about basic computer Internet security like a firewall, anti-spyware, privacy policies, etc. Don’t worry if you can’t understand everything at first. As you come across more articles, you’ll gain a greater understanding and grasp more of the computer jargons and concepts.

2. Arm Your PC
Your PC should be your vehicle as you cruise along the information highway. Load up your PC with a firewall and an anti-virus program. Firewall and anti-virus programs are relatively inexpensive and could be bought or downloaded from the Internet. Some are even free.

If you are going to download the product, be sure that the source is reputable. If you already have a anti-virus program installed, then make sure it is updated daily or weekly at the most and make sure your computer and other software have update and security patches installed.

3. Beware of Strangers
Instant messaging (IM), chat rooms and bots are the types of real-time messaging that are extremely popular nowadays. When engaging in either of these, try to be aware of the real identity of the person you are communicating with.

You should never divulge your personal information like residential address, telephone numbers, your social security, or bank accounts. Even if you think you are giving this information to someone you know, don’t do it! Some might even ask you to click on a seemingly harmless web address that, in reality, may actually contain malicious codes or information that could grab this information from your computer without you knowing it. You should also disable your automatic download settings.

4. E-mails Could Be Harmful
Hackers and spammers could target your inbox to spread unwanted information. They may send e-mails with malicious contents, from harmless spam to damaging computer virus. Simply delete the e-mail if the sender or the e-mail subject seems suspicious.

Viruses could modify e-mail addresses discreetly so it looks like it came from your family or a friend. Say, like interchanging two letters in an address in your contact list. Always make sure your anti-virus is set to automatically scan all attachments before you download them.

Email is always an unsecure computer threat. You ca n minimize this threat by using an online web email client like Gmail or Yahoo instead of using Outlook Express, Outlook, or some other email client on your computer. The major web email clients will greatly reduce your spam emails and will also check attachments for viruses and other know threats before you can download them to your computer.

5. Common Sense
Remember always use common sense, if something is too good to be true then it probably is. Also, it is important to always do an online search of anything you intend to download before you actually download it. Additionally, never hesitate to use your phone to verify suspicious e-mails, and if no phone number is available then that should say it all.

Finally it is never too early to warn your kids about the online dangers and if you feel it necessary, it might not hurt to install software that will let you keep tabs of your children’s and spouse’s surfing.

As we spend more and more time online, it is going to be more and more necessary to ensure that our experiences are safe and productive. These are only a few of the tips that you should consider when using the Internet. These tips could save you the hassle and expense of undoing the damage caused by those creating havoc online.

So we have covered the basics. Specifically we have passed on some common sense and software solutions that will greatly reduce your chances of having your online security breached.  I sincerely hope that this guide was helpful to you.

Jerry J. Jansen

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