| The explosive growth of the Internet has meant that | | | | that haven't yet infected your PC and eliminate the |
| thousands of people are today experiencing the joys | | | | ones that have.Antivirus software can only protect |
| of being online for the first time. With growth there | | | | your computer from viruses trying to infect it via email, |
| always comes pain. Be it your growing pains as a child | | | | CD-Rom, floppy disk, Word documents or other types |
| or the growth and development of this part of our | | | | of computer files. Antivirus software alone will not |
| culture called the Internet.Firstly we need to quickly | | | | keep your computer 100% safe. You also need to use |
| explain what the Internet is and where it came from. | | | | firewall software.Firewall SoftwareThe use of firewall |
| The Internet is the offspring of a military project called | | | | software by home computer users is a relatively new |
| Arpanet. Arpanet was designed to provide reliable | | | | occurence. All Internet connections are a two way |
| communication during global nuclear war. A vast | | | | process. Data must be sent and received by your |
| network of interconnected computers was set up all | | | | computer. This data is sent through something called |
| over the world to allow the various branches of US | | | | ports. These are not physical things rather aspects of |
| and NATO forces to communicate with each | | | | the way your computer communicates online.Firewall |
| other.Nuclear war never came (thankfully) and the | | | | software watches these ports to make sure that only |
| world was left with a massive network of computers | | | | safe communication is happening between your |
| all connected together with nothing to do. Colleges and | | | | computer and other computers online. If it sees |
| universities started to use these computers for sharing | | | | something dangerous happening it blocks that port on |
| research internationally. From there it grew and spread | | | | your computer to make sure your computer stays |
| outside colleges to local homes and businesses. The | | | | safe from the person who is trying to hack into your |
| World Wide Web was born and its father was a guy | | | | system.An easier way to understand a firewall would |
| called Tim Berners Lee.When you're connected to the | | | | be to picture your computer as an apartment complex. |
| Internet you're sharing a vast network with hundreds | | | | At the front door of this complex there is a security |
| of millions of other users. This shared network | | | | guard. Every person who enters the complex must |
| provides resources that 15 years ago were never | | | | pass this security guard. If the security guard |
| thought possible. Unfortunately when something is | | | | recognizes the person entering as a resident he allows |
| shared its open to abuse. On the Internet this abuse | | | | them to pass without saying anything. If, however, the |
| comes from hackers and virus creators. Their sole | | | | person entering the complex is unknown to him then |
| intent is to cause chaos and/or harm to your computer | | | | he will stop that person and ask for identification. If |
| system and millions of other computer systems all | | | | they have no business being at the apartment |
| over the world.How do you combat this? You need an | | | | complex he escorts them from the building.If you are |
| Internet security system. This might sound complicated | | | | not currently using firewall software your computer will |
| but your Internet security system will be quite | | | | get hacked into - that's a guarantee.PopUp |
| straigtforward being comprised of just 2 - 3 Internet | | | | BlockerYou can get a good popup blocker at no cost. |
| security products. We'll look at each of these products | | | | An easy way to do this is to install either the Google |
| in more detail now:AntiVirus SoftwareThe first and | | | | or Yahoo toolbar. Both of these come with popup |
| most critical element of your Internet security system | | | | blockers built in. Popups are not necessarily dangerous |
| is antivirus software. If you don't have up-to-date | | | | but are a nuisance and using either of these toolbars |
| antivirus software on your PC you're asking for trouble. | | | | will make your life that bit easier.A simple rule for |
| 300 new viruses appear each month and if you're not | | | | practicing online security is: "If in doubt then don't". If you |
| constantly protecting your system against this threat | | | | don't recognize the file, the email address, the website |
| your computer will become infected with at least one | | | | or if your gut feeling says "no" then don't click that |
| virus - it's only a matter of time.Antivirus software | | | | button.This article was provided courtesy of the |
| scans your PC for signatures of a virus. A virus | | | | Spyware And Malware Guide. This site offers |
| signature is the unique part of that virus. It can be a a | | | | information on how to remove spyware from your |
| file name, how the virus behaves or the size of the | | | | computer - often for free. |
| virus file itself. Good antivirus software will find viruses | | | | |