5 Steps to safeguard your computer

The Internet is increasingly used by white-collar criminals for fraudulent purposes. You can avoid these attempts to steal your personal information by being vigilant and by implementing the following 5 steps to safeguarding your computer and yourself.

Step 1: Install anti-virus software and anti-spyware/adware software.

What is anti-virus software?

Anti-virus software consists of programs designed to detect the presence or occurrence of a computer virus. If any virulent infections are found on your computer, you can set the anti-virus program to quarantine or delete the infection.

Why is anti-virus software required?

Malware (malicious software which includes viruses, adware, spyware, Trojans, keyloggers and other destructive programs) is now widespread on many people's computers. Recent estimates state that about 70% of computers which connect regularly to the Internet are infected with some kind of malware. In many cases, the infection results in simply a slow-down of the computer's functionality, but malware can also be extremely destructive, deleting files and interfering with operating system functionality, and in the case of spyware/adware, sending personal information such as credit card numbers and bank account details and access codes to a criminal third party.

Spyware and Adware protection

To increase the protection afforded by a good anti-virus program, it pays to also install an effective anti-spyware/adware program.

What is spyware/adware software?

Spyware or Adware are programs which piggy-back on free downloaded Internet software, typically games, music, screensavers, utilities and other seemingly useful pieces of software, and they install themselves unknown to the computer user. Once installed, they can monitor your Internet activity and in some cases can be used to transmit personal information to a third party. This information can be used for identity theft and to access bank accounts and credit card accounts.

Tips for using anti-malware software

Step 2: Install a firewall and only allow necessary incoming and outgoing connections.

What is a computer firewall?

A firewall is a gatekeeper and acts as a barrier between your internal network and the public internet, and performs the function of intercepting and nullifying external threats to your system. Firewalls come in hardware and software versions, and if you access the Internet via a hardware router, normally a hardware firewall is built into this piece of equipment. It makes sense to add a software firewall on your computer to increase the level of protection for your system.

Why do I need firewall software?

Once you are connected to the Internet, you have established a communications path which the baddies can try to exploit to penetrate your computer's defenses. A firewall can check incoming requests and only allow access to those that you have set up in the software as allowable. It will block all other attempts to access your computer. Firewall software protects your computer from hackers and other undesirable attacks. As with the virus and spyware programs, you should set your firewall software to automatically search for upgrades and install them when they become available.

Step 3: Keep your operating system and browser updated.

The operating system that runs your computer is constantly updated by the software companies who produce them. Microsoft, for example, offer an automatic update facility for their Windows operating systems and they are continually updating their systems to make them operate more efficiently and faster and to provide more security features and protection against unwanted intrusion. You can set your operating system to check and download updates to Windows automatically and in order to ensure that your operating system is secure, it is important to make sure it's always up-to-date.

Web browsers (Internet Explorer, Mozilla Firefox, Apple Safari etc.) are updated frequently by the vendors as well. Make sure that you are using the most current version of your preferred browser.

Step 4: Be wary of opening email attachments or clicking on links contained in email messages from people you don't know.

Beware of email attachments and links

One of the most common ways to infect a computer is by sending a virus or malware in an email attachment. When you open the attachment, your computer becomes infected. If you receive an email from someone you don't know, do not open it. Delete it immediately. If you're given a link to a site you don't know, don't click on it. Even emails from supposedly trusted sources (your bank, your credit card company etc.) may have been falsified. If you're not sure, don't use a provided link, and enter the URL manually. The provided link may take you to a clever mockup of your financial institution's site with the intention of capturing your logons and passwords and thereby providing the baddies with access to your accounts. This activity is known as "phishing" and is very widespread nowadays.

Your best protection against fraud is to be on your guard all of the time. Never respond to any message that asks for any of the following information:

Report any such attempt to your financial institution immediately, including a copy of the original email.

Step 5: Don't download freeware or shareware from an unfamiliar source.

What is freeware or shareware?

Freeware is software developed by individuals or enthusiasts and is made available for download on the Internet free of charge. Shareware is similar, but normally the developers ask for a small donation, or levy a small charge. There is an abundance of useful software available on the Internet from sources ranging from private individuals to companies such as Microsoft and Apple, but unfortunately some of it is contaminated by viruses, spyware, adware and other malicious forms of destructive software.

The only answer is for you to be very wary of what you download from the internet, and if you do download a piece of software, scan it immediately with a reliable anti-virus and anti-spyware program before you open and use it.


Be careful out there!

In summary, the Internet is a vast universe of information, some of it very useful and some of it very destructive. The user who equips him or herself with the best protection and who exercises restraint and caution at all times is more likely to keep their PCs and systems intact and safe.