| Every time you connect to the email, you're taking a | | | | possibly even trusted IP addresses. You can usually |
| risk. Viruses, trojans, malware, spyware, worms, spam | | | | tailor your firewall to suit your needs by allowing |
| they're all nasty stuff designed specifically to pillage | | | | exceptions and adding programs and websites. |
| personal information or cause general mayhem on | | | | Virus and spyware protection software, meanwhile, |
| your computer as it innocently communicates with | | | | help you keep your files safe. Hackers insert viruses |
| others. | | | | and spyware in website HTML, text files and software |
| The internet is insecure | | | | programs. Once downloaded and activated, these |
| As the internet is very insecure by nature -ie anyone | | | | programs can destroy files, copy passwords and |
| can load anything on it - you need to take cautionary | | | | banking details and damage software programs. A |
| steps to protect yourself. Even harmlessly browsing | | | | general anti-virus program scans for such viruses and |
| through sites may get your computer affected with a | | | | spyware either deletes or quarantines them for you. |
| virus or spyware without you even knowing it. Internet | | | | What is your responsibility? |
| security is your protection against such intrusions and | | | | Users must also pay particular attention to common |
| works by limiting your computer's exposure to online | | | | email security threats. Do not open email file |
| threats. | | | | attachments from unknown sources because this |
| Measures to take | | | | tends to be a major source of viruses. Clicking on |
| Basic measures involve protection by carefully | | | | active links in emails can redirect your browser to sites |
| selected passwords, file permissions and data | | | | full of spyware, adware or worse. Phishing - or fake |
| backups. Unfortunately it doesn't end there. In the age | | | | emails from trusted sources that ask for personal and |
| of enterprising cyber criminals, installing anti-virus | | | | financial information - can lead to identity theft. In |
| software, a personal firewall, anti-adware and | | | | general, your bank or credit card will never email a |
| anti-spyware as well as browsing software is | | | | request for you to update your details. Common sense |
| essential. Such software can be bundled into a suite | | | | prevails here. |
| for you to buy to take the stress out of finding them | | | | Warning |
| separately. Some security tasks are automatically | | | | Also be warned that new internet threats appear daily. |
| performed by your operating system; others must be | | | | Keeping your security software updated is essential to |
| managed and monitored by the user to be effective. | | | | your security plan. Review the default internet security |
| The first line of defense is a firewall. It works by | | | | settings and update settings for your operating system, |
| allowing your computer to only connect to trusted | | | | browser, email program and all installed security |
| sources - kind of like a hardware or software device | | | | software often. Schedule a daily or weekly time for |
| that acts like a fence around your computer. Both | | | | your virus and spyware software to run and report |
| hardware and software firewalls use a number of | | | | your security status. If you are frequently finding that |
| different techniques to keep your PC and network | | | | your computer has been invaded by spyware or |
| safe with all data (incoming and outgoing) inspected to | | | | viruses, upgrade your software or select stronger |
| see if it is coming from and going to trusted ports and | | | | protection options. |