Hi I'm Mark and I work for Tea. Oops I mean V8media really. However a cuppa is never turned away. While consuming tea, I've noticed lately that there seems to be quite a few customers who have called with concerns about internet security. Either because someone they know has picked up a virus and lost everything on their computer or their credit card or paypal/ebay details stolen and used to purchase tickets to see Cliff Richards. They could at least have bought something decent like Oasis tickets.
Anyway the Internet has dramatically transformed our communications making it possible for people around the world to easily exchange information faster than ever before. But the Internet is a very open system and that openness also creates an enormous problem. Anyone is able to access the network, yet not everyone has good intentions. To avoid becoming a victim, here are a few useful tips.
Use anti-virus software.
Viruses can spread rapidly, damage your data, bombard you with advertising or even steal personal data for criminal use. Anti-virus software can help prevent an infection. There are two free to use anti-virus applications available to choose from. free.avg.com or http://www.avast.com/
Passwords.
Many online services, such as banking, auction sites and e-mail require the use of passwords. A secure password is a must. Simply picking a single word such as “excellent” is very easily guessed and it will only be a matter of time before your account is stolen and suddenly someone's purchased Cliff Richards tickets using your paypal/credit card. Something like “3xc3llent1094” is far more difficult to guess.
Software Updates.
You've probably read about security "holes" that turn up periodically. Once they're discovered, you can download fixes. For Windows users, an easy way to update your system is by clicking on the Windows Update option under the Start menu or by pointing your web browser to this link: http://windowsupdate.microsoft.com/.
Be wary of e-mail attachments and application downloads.
A virus can hide in an attachment or an application you download, particularly non mainstream applications. Opening it unleashes the virus. The safest thing to do is to scan the attachment with anti-virus software before you open it.
Use a firewall.
A firewall is a software program that blocks unauthorized access to your computer. Windows XP, Vista, Windows 7 and Mac OS X have built-in firewalls, so make sure they're activated if you use those operating systems. Alternatively most broadband modems/routers have a firewall built in.
Be wary of scare ware advertising.
Some websites, particularly amateur and non mainstream sites can have adverts constructed to look like an anti-virus software identifying viruses on your machine. Some of these are just a ploy to get anti-virus software sales by making users panic buy however some can even be viruses disguised as anti-virus software.
No comments:
Post a Comment