| Most of us rely on our personal computers and | | | | computer. Never respond to emails asking you |
| those in our office to complete multiple | | | | for personal information as most credible |
| tasks each day. If that data is lost or | | | | companies won't contact you for such |
| compromised it can create numerous problems | | | | information. |
| for us. Protecting computers against viruses | | | | |
| and spyware is something you should do before | | | | Make sure you purchase a virus and spyware |
| you start using any program on it. The | | | | protection program that is very easy to |
| information you prevent from being accessed | | | | install. Most of them offer step by step |
| could be your credit card accounts and bank | | | | instructions for you to follow. You can find |
| accounts. If they are compromised you can end | | | | out how easy such software programs are to |
| up becoming a victim of identity theft. | | | | install before you buy them just by reading |
| | | | some independent reviews online. |
| One way that people accidentally end up with | | | | |
| viruses or spyware on their computer is by | | | | You need to choose the program for your |
| not paying attention to the sites they use. | | | | computer protection very carefully. While |
| Don't get into the habit of giving out your | | | | they are designed to give you the very best |
| personal information online just because a | | | | security, you can be sure those trying to |
| site asks for it. To opt in, you should only | | | | pass viruses or get spyware into your system |
| have to give them a first name and an email | | | | are very smart. They have learned elaborate |
| address. | | | | tricks to be able to gain access to your |
| | | | information. |
| Always check the address in the URL to make | | | | |
| sure you are accessing a secure site. It | | | | One of the latest tactics that these |
| should start with "https" as this will let | | | | criminals have been using is to sell software |
| you know it is very secure. If it only starts | | | | that is supposed to protect your computer |
| with "http" then the site is not secure and | | | | from viruses and spyware. Unfortunately, what |
| you can end up compromising the security of | | | | they are selling you is actually the very |
| your computer if you continue entering | | | | thing you are trying to protect yourself |
| information on the site. | | | | against. Always get such software from a |
| | | | company that has an excellent reputation, not |
| Viruses can spread very rapidly so if you | | | | just any one that you come across online for |
| think your computer may be infected, you | | | | a good price. |
| should take care not to pass it to any other | | | | |
| area of your computer or to others via email. | | | | In order to ensure your computer is well |
| By disconnecting your computer from the | | | | protected against viruses and spyware, you |
| network you have a good chance of isolating | | | | want a program that offers you instant |
| the damages. | | | | updates. These will usually happen for one |
| | | | full year after you install the program. This |
| Always be on the alert for various types of | | | | ensures that your protective software is |
| emails known as phishing. This is a scam to | | | | always the most current available and |
| get you to provide personal information. Once | | | | criminals will have a hard time infecting |
| you do, spyware can be attached to your | | | | your computer system with viruses or spyware. |