The Internet has opened up a whole new world of information
and communications at your fingertips. Whilst this
has great advantages, there are a number of dangers
which can land the unsuspecting surfer with unexpected
problems. With the advent of broadband, and computers
being on-line for hours on end, these problems can
spiral out of control.
Although by no means an exhaustive list of solutions,
Completely Computers recommend the following as an
absolute minimum level of protection to help you get
the most out of the Internet, with the least risk.
A good FIREWALL is essential. When you connect to
the Internet, many people do not realise that other,
less scrupulous people can actually access your computer.
You wouldn't park your car without locking it - a
firewall is the PC equivalent.
ANTIVIRUS software is also a must, to trap the nasties
that come in through email and even websites as well.
Keep it up-to-date, and scan your PC regularly.
ANTI-SPYWARE is becoming increasingly necessary.
From the simple targetted advertising "cookie",
to the key-logger program that captures your keystrokes
to send off to hackers to get your credit-card details.
These bugs can cause many problems from slow running,
to being unable to access the Internet at all, or
having other people spend your money for you. Keep
up to date, and scan once a week.
All three solutions above can be obtained free of
charge for domestic users, so there really is no reason
not to have a basic level of protection.
Other tips include:
Mind the pop-ups. Pop-up windows are a notorious
way of getting unsuspecting surfers to download spyware/malware
withinout realising. Often, there is only a "yes"
button. Always try to close the windows by either
right-clicking the icon on the start bar, and select
close, or clicking on the cross in the top-right hand
corner. If doing the latter, though, be careful. Watch
the mouse as you move it to the top right. If it stays
or becomes a hand, then do not click, as the chances
are it is not a windows close button, but another
way of accepting whatever it is. If in doubt, press
"alt-ctrl-del" simultaneously, and close
all your open windows, scan your system, and start
again.
If you are on Broadband, consider using a ROUTER
rather than a modem. The latter directly connects
your PC to the Internet, whereas a router provides
a physical barrier between your PC and the Internet
- giving another valuable layer of protection.
Avoid music downloads, "peer to peer" sharing,
and games hack sites. These can offer some of the
highest risks of all, as they are targetted by hackers
as a soft option.
Remember, none of the above can fully guarantee complete
safety, but they can certainly significantly reduce
the risks.
RECOMMENDED SOFTWARE
FIREWALL: Zone Labs Security*
ANTIVIRUS: AVG* from Grisoft
ANTI-SPYWARE: Ad-Aware* from Lavasoft, SpyBot Search
and Destroy**, AVG Anti-Malware from Grisoft*.
INTERNET SECURITY: For full protection in an easy
to use all-in-one product, we recommend AVG Internet
Security. Click on the banner below for details and
downloads (including trials) of the full range of
AVG solutions.
* - Free versions are available for domestic users
only. Commercial users need to pay.
** - Shareware - free download, but donations to the
author are requested.
Please note, these links are
provided as a service in good faith to visitors to
this website. Completely Computers Ltd neither warranty
nor guarantee the safety or suitability of any of
the above, or compatability with any individual PC
setup. Please check out the websites concerned.
If you wish to discuss anything on this page, or
would like your system security checked, then please
contact us on 01903 522273.
