Don Cummings is a computer industry 30 year veteran and has a keen interest in PC security. His website at http://www.pcmalwareshield.com offers information and advice on protecting your PC as well as reviews of PC protection software.
The Web is increasingly used by white-collar criminals for fraudulent purposes. You can thwart these malicious activities by being watchful and by activating the following 5 steps to protect your computer and yourself.
1. Install anti-virus software and infection protection software.
2. Install a firewall and monitor all attempts to access your data.
3. Always upload the latest version of your operating system.
4. Do not open attachments or click on links contained in e-mail originating from unknown persons.
5. Do not download freeware or shareware from unfamiliar sources.
Step 1: Install anti-virus software and anti-spyware/adware software.
What is anti-virus software?
Anti-virus software comprises routines designed to find out if your PC is infected by a malicious threat. If any threats are found on your computer, you can set the anti-virus program to quarantine or delete the infection.
Why is anti-virus software required?
Malware (malicious software which includes viruses, adware, spyware, Trojans, keyloggers and other destructive programs) is now commonplace on many people's computers. Recent estimates state that the vast majority of PCs which connect regularly to the Internet have some kind of malware problem. In many cases, there is no real permanent damage to the PC, but malware can also be extremely vicious, deleting information and interfering with operating system functionality, and in the case of spyware/adware, sending valuable details such as credit card numbers, financial records and passwords to a criminal third party.
To augment the protection afforded by a good anti-virus program, it pays to also acquire an effective anti-spyware/adware program.
What is spyware/adware software?
Spyware or Adware are infections which piggy-back on free downloaded Internet software, often games, music, screensavers, utilities and other seemingly innocent pieces of software, and they install themselves unknown to the computer user. Once installed, they can see what you're accessing on the Internet and in some cases can be used to transmit personal information to a hacker. This information can be used to assume your identity online.
Tips for using anti-malware software:
Set up anti-virus software on your PC and set it to automatically scan files.
Do the same with your anti-spyware/adware program.
Be aware of the limitations of free protection software. It may not have all the components needed to clean your computer of infection, and give-away applications can sometimes even contain the malicious software which they purport to be fighting! Only buy from well-known vendors.
New types of malware are constantly being discovered, and it's a good idea to set your protection software to keep your program updated by downloading the new updates from the software publisher when they are available.
Step 2: Buy a personal firewall and monitor and filter all necessary incoming and outgoing connections.
What is a software firewall?
A firewall is a guardian and acts as a interface between your PC and the Internet, and performs the function of monitoring and blocking external threats to your PC. Firewalls come in hardware and software versions, and if you use a hardware router, normally a hardware firewall is built into this piece of equipment. It makes sense to add a software firewall on your computer to supplement the level of protection for your system.
Why should I use a firewall?
Once you are connected to the Internet, you have established a conduit which the baddies can try to exploit to overcome your PCs protection. A firewall can check incoming requests and only let the benign requests have access to your machine. It will block all other attempts to access your computer. Firewall software protects your computer from crackers and other undesirable attacks. As with the virus and spyware programs, you should set your firewall software to automatically search for changes and install them when they become available.
Step 3: Always run the latest version of your browser and operating system.
The operating system that runs your computer is constantly updated by the software companies who produce them. Microsoft, for example, offer an automatic update facility for their various Win operating systems and they are continually updating their systems to make them operate more efficiently and faster and to provide new security features and defenses against unwanted intrusion. You can set your operating system to check for and download updates to Windows automatically. To make sure that your operating system is secure, it is important to make sure that you're running the current version.
Web browsers (Internet Explorer, Mozilla Firefox, Apple Safari etc.) are updated frequently by the vendors as well. Verify that you are using the latest version of your favorite browser.
Step 4: Take care when opening email attachments or clicking on links contained in email messages from people you don't know.
Sending a virus or a trojan in an attachment to an email message is a common way to infect your PC. When you open the attachment, your computer becomes infected. If you receive an email from an unfamiliar source, do not open it. Delete it immediately. If you're given a link to a site you don't know, don't click on it. Even emails from places you would normally trust (your bank, your credit card company etc.) may have been created by criminals. If you're not sure, don't use a provided link, and enter the URL manually. The link in the message may take you to a facsimile of your financial institution's site and will retain your access codes thereby providing the thieves with access to your accounts. This activity is known as 'phishing' and is very widespread nowadays.
Suspicion is your best friend under these circumstances. Never respond to any message that asks for any of the following information:
Password
Logon code
Personal Identification Number (PIN)
Credit card validation code
Bank account numbers
ATM or credit card numbers
Personal information, such as Social Security number or identity number
Inform your financial institution immediately if you are targeted by this kind of email.
Step 5: Don't download freeware or shareware from an unfamiliar source.
What is freeware or shareware?
Some people develop software which they then offer as downloadable applications on the Internet. These are usually enthusiasts who genuinely want to share their skills for free with other people. Shareware is similar, but often the developers ask for a nominal fee for their efforts. Lots of useful programs can be found on the Internet written by individuals and both small and large companies, but unfortunately in some cases the software is malicious in nature and contains code which could damage your computer.
The only answer is for you to be very wary of what you download from the internet, and if you do download a piece of software, check it for infection before you install it on your PC.
Keep your wits about you on the Internet!
The Internet has changed the way we look for and acquire knowledge and while most of it is informative and useful, the Net also has a dark underbelly. Get the best protection you can afford and you'll be able to surf the Web in safety.
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