Keeping Safe Online

The internet is an excellent resource for advertising, entertainment and education but you should always maintain a good level of security when online. There are literally tens of thousands of malicious software (viruses, trojans, keyloggers, etc) that can infect your machine and the number is growing every day.

Things have changed a lot in the field of internet security over the last few years. The familiar virus circulating in an email is no longer the main source of computer infections, in fact it is entirely possible to get silently infected when visiting any website. The Real Player exploit of Oct 2007 is a perfect example of this, where unsuspecting visitors were infected by an exploit embedded in ads displayed on legitimate sites.

The people who author this software are using more and more sophisticated techniques, and are earning lots of money for their efforts. It has become a very lucrative industry spanning the entire globe.

However, keeping your computer safe online is really just a matter of following a few simple rules:

• Use common sense. Don't click on everything you see, and remember - if it sounds too good to be true, it probably is. Have a healthy amount of suspicion when you see popups and ads telling you to download "essential" programs, spyware scanners, and the like.
• Keep all your software updated. Most software updates are security patches, so its essential that you regularly check that you have the latest versions.
• Install security software. Security professionals all agree that antivirus is not enough protection for your computer. Read more on the Recommended Security Software page.
• DONT respond to emails purporting to be from your bank, ebay, or paypal. They are 'phishing' scams trying to trick you into giving up your password. Your bank will NEVER send you an email asking you to enter your password.
• Avoid disreputable websites that deal in porn, warez, crackz, etc. There is a high probablility that they may sources of trojans. If you do visit these sites make sure you have the best protection for your computer that you can afford.
• Use common sense (its worth repeating!)

We can't guarantee that you will never get infected with any nasties if you follow these rules, but the chance of it happening is far more remote than if you don't.