Tips For Safer Computing Online

by BB Lee (C)2004New computer viruses threaten the unwary user everyday. Hackersjeopardize your online security with invasive computer techniques tosteal your passwords, personal information, even identity.Unscrupulous marketers bait you with free software that unleashesspyware, trojans, or worms, on your system. While other marketers bombard you with popups at every turn. And others send unsolicited spy emails asking you to click links to unsafe websites that install threating software on your computer, or try to download your private information. These are only a few of the security issues involved while online.Read through the following list to arm your computer and protect yourself against these vicious and often malicious online attacks.1. Install a good anti-virus software.Here's a good free anti-virus software...Fr** AVG Anti-Virus......New - AVG Fr** Edition is now available for all single home users worldwide! More detailed information can be found in the AVG Free Edition License Agreement.Click Here To Download:http://www.grisoft.com/us/us_dwnl_free.php2. Install a personal firewall.This personal firewall is one of the best online....http://www.zonealarm.com3. Install a good pop up blocker.Google has a free pop up blocker so does Yahoo. The only drawbackis you will have to download and install their toolbar.4. Know Privacy Policy.Read the websites privacy policy before releasing personal information.Note do they share or sell your information with third parties. If they do you might reconsider releasing your personal information.5. Passwords.Never use easy to guess passwords like your favorite color, your social security number, your birthdate, words less than six characters. Mix up passwords with combinations of numbers and symbols.6.Virus Warnings. Don't forward virus warnings you receive in emails. It's not yourjob to warn others. And you might be circulating a fake warningdesigned to scare receivers into downloading trojans or removingimportant files on their computer.7. Keep It Secret.Don't give your password to anyone. Be wary of emails asking you to give out your personal passwords for accounts online. Or emails asking you to click a link and enter your password on the site. This site might be a fake sent by hackers "phishing" for victims.8. Primary Email Address.Don't divulge your primary email address on unfamiliar sites. Youmight be bombarded with unsolicited emails by marketers whosell your address to third parties online.9. Free AccountsSet up several free email accounts with a psuedo name to handlespam, when you register with unfamiliar sites, or to use on chat and message boards.10. Chat Line And Message Board Warnings.Don't release personal information on chat lines ormessage boards. This is one way many identity thefts occur.