Security Issues for Internet Users

The internet is a rapidly changing place, with technology evolving at a pace which is often hard to keep up with. That computer you bought today might be obsolescent by the end of the month. Likewise, security risks and dangers are also changing rapidly, with new and ingenious methods to try and rob you of your money, or your very identity. But what can Internet users do to minimise the risks of this happening?

An ounce of protection is worth a pound of cure. Make sure your PC is bulletproof:

- Install an antivirus program (McAfee or Norton are available commercially; AVG Antivirus is an excellent free alternative. Don't just install it, run it frequently; daily in an ideal world, weekly minimum. Make sure the software is up to date and has the latest upgrades and patches.
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- Install some form of anti-spyware software. Either Lavasoft's AdAware or Spybot do an excellent job, if you want to be doubly certain, install both. Again, run and update these regularly.

- Install a firewall, and keep it up. Any version of Windows from XP onwards comes with a built-in firewall; a free alternative is Zonealarm. Keep it running, and yet again, update as needed.

- Switch browsers. Mozilla Firefox is free, more secure, and a better browser to boot than Internet Explorer. Judicious use of the settings will allow you to block cookies from any untrusted site.

So. You're softwared up. The second (and most important) tip... Use common sense:

- Passwords. Make them hard to guess. Include a mix of upper and lowercase letters, include a number in there somewhere. If your name is John Smith, and you were born in 1972, a possible example could be Jsmith72. A better example would be J72Smith. You can make passwords easy to remember and at the same time very, very difficult for a password script to break.

- Once you've picked a killer password, keep it secret. Don't write it down. It's easier to sift through desks or trashcans than it is to sift through a hard drive or server. Don't tell it anyone you don't trust. I don't care if she is your grandmother.

- If you're not expecting an email, and it's offering you a fabulous deal, it isn't. Add it to your spam filter. If you get an email from your bank or online service, and they're asking for personal details, it's not your bank or online service. Forward it to them, using the email address spoof@, i.e. (spoof@ebay.com or spoof@paypal.com). They'll deal with it. Above all, if it's an email with an attachment from someone you don't know, don't open it. Your computer will thank you for this.

It's impossible to cover everything in an article like this, but I can't stress the two general points enough... Make sure your computer is protected, and make sure that protection is up to date. And if something looks suspicious, treat it as such.