How to Surf the Internet Safely and Securely

With the internet being so vast and knowledgeable, it's no wonder no one goes to libraries anymore. In any case, as with anything that doesn't have many restrictions, there will always be some parties who want to ruin a good thing. The internet is no different. Everywhere you go, you will see spam, viruses, and generally, a lot of things that don't belong on the internet. Here are some tips on how to stay safe and use the internet efficiently.

Be leery of emails.
Whenever you receive an email that doesn't really convey a message (such as 329fuufhoie), chances are it's a scam. Even if it does, always be cautious when opening an email from a sender whose address you don't recognize. Many scams involve elaborate and professional proposals, things that may seem real. They may also have attachments for you to download onto your computer, something you should avoid altogether. If you don't know who's sending you an email, never, EVER download a file onto your computer. Most email providers now provide a spam box in which they sort out the mail they deem is repetitively sent to numerous accounts, or emails that seem to be useless. Even so, once in a while some bad email seep through, and once you open it, your whole computer is infected with a virus. Oh, and there's no secret to getting rich.

Popup Ads should be ignored.
Even if you rather like the design of a certain popup advertisement, or you want to check out what the website has to offer, be cautious when clicking on a popup advertisement. What am I saying? NEVER click on a popup advertisement, unless you know what you are doing (most cases you don't). These are just ploys to get you into a certain website, inside which there are multiple scams and viruses.

Think about it: if a company has marketed itself well and provides a legitimate, useful service, why would they need to resort to disrupting others' internet experience?

Put up filters.
Google has it, and so does Yahoo. Pretty much every major search engine has a way to disable certain settings and enable them. If you want to maintain a certain level of security when searching for things on the internet, you can always up your security level. Strict filtering can always help keep your family safe - especially your children.

When entering personal information, always remember: PADLOCK.
Anytime you are buying something online or entering your personal information into a website, you are taking a risk. The internet is not 100% safe, but there are websites that maintain secure servers in order to provide improved security against attack. If you want to order something from a website and you are ready to enter in private information, always look to the bottom right hand corner of your screen. You should see a yellow padlock, meaning the current website you are on is authenticated or verifiably secured by a certain method. If you don't see it, then it's time to ditch the website - not necessarily because their products or services are bad, but you must protect yourself. A lot of websites such as PayPal, eBay, and even Associated Content have run on secured servers, so usually you can rest safe. But never let your guard down, because one time is all it takes to cause you lots of trouble.

Don't believe in scams.
Advertisements that claim that you've won $100 million are fake. Use your brain. There are plenty of scams floating around the internet, and if you don't want to get stuck in one, learn not to be too greedy. Besides, weren't you working on that research paper?

Install virus protection software.
Most of the time, your copy of Windows will come with a trial version of virus protection software. These are vital in order to maintaining your computer's overall performance. Programs such as adware, spyware, and malware can easily affect your computer. You may say, "But I only download programs I am sure work!" Even so, these types of adware programs can be installed along with your downloaded files, or they could even be installed the moment you click on a dangerous website. Just viewing the website can get your computer infected, just like opening an infected email.

In order to provide maximum security, it is recommended that you purchase virus protection software such as Norton Antivirus Software or McAfee Virus Protection software. Both cost around $40, but it is a good investment, one that is sure to protect you from all of the dangers of bad websites. I currently use a version of McAfee, and it does routine checks during which it scans your whole computer to see if there are any files it missed. It will quarantine these files it has deemed dangerous, and then delete them within a certain time period. Even Trojans.

Chat rooms aren't full of good people.
And there is no such things as unicorns. Sorry. Friendly as a person may sound, always be cautious when dealing with a person you've met online. I'm not saying things aren't always the way they seem, but most of the time they are. Someone who is overbearing, aggressive, and bullying should be avoided. Be friends with people you know, and even if you don't know anyone, it's good to make new ones. But if someone suddenly asks a question such as "Wanna meet up?" You know what to do. Lock your doors and get under the bed. Well, maybe you don't have to get under the bed.

If you are new to surfing the internet effectively and securely, ask people you know to teach you some of the basics. As with anything else, use your judgment when dealing with things that could be potentially dangerous. And the internet can be. If you don't use it right. You shouldn't be too skeptical of everything, but if you were walking down the street and someone asked for your personal information, you definitely wouldn't give it to them.