| Always practice safe surfing! Here is a
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| | 2. Watch for updates to your firewall and
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| computer checklist to help keep you safe
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| | HOSTS file (see below). These are
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| online. Print it out and stick it on the
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| | infrequent, so check your email, or check
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| wall beside your computer. To begin with,
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| | in the programs to see if they are up to
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| I assume you have an anti-virus program,
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| | date.
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| a firewall and 2 anti-spyware programs,
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| | 3. Get a custom HOSTS file. Go to your
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| at least.
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| | favorite search engine to find one. Take
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| Why 2 anti-spyware applications? Often
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| | the time to read and understand what it
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| one program will find what the other
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| | is and does. If you have never used one
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| misses. You should also have a filter
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| | before, it may seem complicated at first.
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| blocker program, that keeps this stuff
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| | It really is not.
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| out of your computer in the first place.
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| | Viruses have gotten so sophisticated
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| Daily:
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| | lately that they can use the HOSTS file
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| 1. As soon as you turn on your computer
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| | to prevent your anti-virus software from
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| for the day, and before you start surfing
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| | updating itself. To avoid this, about
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| the Internet, update your anti-virus
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| | once a month you should open your HOSTS
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| program, or check that it updates itself
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| | file, and check to make sure your
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| automatically.
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| | anti-virus program is NOT listed there.
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| 2. When you have finished surfing for the
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| | If it is, your computer could be infected
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| day, or after installing new software,
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| | with a virus. Delete that line in the
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| run one of your anti-spyware programs.
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| | HOSTS file, and run all your security
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| The next day, run the other one.
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| | scans immediately.
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| Alternate them, to catch all possible
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| | Do not open unsolicited email or
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| malware.
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| | unexpected attachments, avoid phishing
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| 3. Carefully and fully read every End
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| | scams and public computers, try not to
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| User License Agreement (EULA). If you see
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| | download anything from the web, change
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| something like "The vendor/publisher may
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| | your passwords every couple of months,
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| install third party software" hit the
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| | back up important files, do not ignore
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| delete button (hard!) or cancel the
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| | warnings and alerts from your security
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| download. Or at least run all your
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| | programs and use Guest and Limited
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| security scans after installation.
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| | accounts for other users on your
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| Weekly:
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| | computer.
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| 1. Once a week, update your anti-spyware
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| | Finally, stay alert and use common sense
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| programs, as well as Windows. If you have
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| | on the Web. Even the best security
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| kids who surf the Net and play games
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| | programs will not protect you unless you
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| online, do it more often.
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| | (and your kids!) think before you click!
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