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