26
Oct
Top 5 Internet Security Tips
Getting online is a norm and one cannot live anymore in the city these days without online transactions using the internet. Either you are filing income taxes, paying for school fees, or simply shopping, internet usage could not be avoided and is a “must” nowadays.
But, unfortunately, the same internet is a whole chaotic world full of criminals too. The virtual world is same as it is on the actual world - you can be robbed while doing your internet transaction, or by simply browsing, unknowingly, you can be a subject of a hack attack.
What can we do to defend ourselves from the internet criminals who threatens to steal our identity or money? Here are top 5 internet security tip:
1. Install Anti-spyware software. Eventhough you already have anti-virus software installed on your PC.
The spyware softwares are in the same family of viruses and worms. While viruses corrupt your system files impending your normal processing speed or destroying the information on your system, spyware softwares literally install them on the system and, without your slightest knowledge, they steal vital information such passwords, SSN and credit card numbers stored in your system to their server. Hence, you must install some efficient anti-spywares on your system to protect your confidential data. Some of the most popular anit-spyware softwares are XoftSpySE Spyware doctor, AdWare and Microsoft Anti-spyware.
See our Review of Top Spyware and Adware Cleaners in the industry. It’s very important to install one of these to get rid or warn you about spywares.
2. Secure your passwords, and make it very hard to guess but easy to remember.
Passwords are the most important part of different online accounts. They are used to perform a wide range of online transactions and other activities such as e-mail on the internet. Hence, exposing your passwords is like making your money in bank vulnerable to stealing. Therefore, it is advised that you should not keep same passwords for different accounts. Further, you should not use guessable characters in your passwords such as you date of birth, you telephone numbers etc. it is always advisable to keep your password fairly long using a combination of both alphabets, letters and special characters as well. Moreover, you should never access your emails from any link in email; rather, you should open a fresh page for that.
See the tips for keeping your password secure and easy to remember.
3. Do not click or open unknown links or open unknown attachments.
This is the most common form of getting your PC infected by virus or spyware. Be aware of those silly e-mails asking you to verify your information and click on this. Or a chat window from a supposed friend who want you to visit an interesting website. Included here are links to phishing scams that lead you to a forged website to steal your personal information.
4. Apply latest updates on your PC, especially when your using Microsoft Windows.
Windows are known to have thousands of vulnerabilities and everyday a different one is being added and “discovered” vulnerability. It is very wise to keep your PC updated of latest Microsoft updates. It is very easy now to get updated by just turning on the Automatic Updates. In Vista, it is under Control Panel, then Windows Security Center, Automatic Updating. Or update manually, using Internet Explorer — under Tools, Windows Update.
5. Firewall
Firewall protects you from potential hackers who can possibly hack your system and find out the vulnerabilities in your machine. Hence, install Firewall on your system to stop block the intrusion of unauthorized traffic or applications to your machine. Some of the very well-known Firewall softwares are Norton Internet Security and Zone Alarm. Windows firewall should be turned on by default.
Security Tip
