Security on the Internet, Anti-virus Software, Popups

*your PC user guide

Security on the Internet

VIRUS ALERT!

If you have been listening to the news in the last few months you will have seen Virus Alerts that have even made it to the National News. Threats to your security, that even though possibly do not attack you directly, have unwanted side effects, such as data loss, Windows and application crashes and the inability to use the Internet. Some attacks can even steal your personal or financial details if stored on your computer; this information can then be used to invade your privacy or to obtain money from your bank or credit cards.

Nowadays the threat of a Virus, Trojan, Worm or Hijack is more real than ever, just connecting to the Internet can leave your computer open to malicious attack. Most new computer users report an attack within a few days, and some have reported an attack within just a few minutes of connecting to the Internet.

However there are ways to reduce the risk of attacks, to close the stable door before the horse bolts. Methods for reducing the risk include a mixture of common sense, caution and specialized software. Apart from the attacks that arrive without your interaction, most attacks arrive by downloading or clicking on something from the Internet.

Anti-virus Software:

The first step and still the most effective protection is Anti-virus software. Anti-virus protection works on two main levels. The first involves scanning files, documents and programs accessed on your PC or being downloaded from the Internet, for suspicious, virus type behaviour. This level of security is provided by the Anti-virus program itself, once installed on the PC. The second level is a list of viruses, which contains their names and what they are likely to do. The first level uses this list to cross reference suspicious behaviour, and help identify viruses.

Anti-virus software MUST be updated regularly, as often as possible, and if possible, every time you connect to the Internet. Most anti-virus software will automatically check for updates when you connect, some will need manually updating, always refer to the software documentation for information on this. Some updates will include changes to the anti-virus program and some will be just updates to the virus list. Program updates will nearly always require you to turn off your PC, and restart it.

Anti-hacker (Firewall) Software:

The second step is becoming more and more important as the Internet becomes more a part of our lives. Nowadays PCs are multimedia stations, capable of providing digital entertainment, some of which can be found on the Internet. To access this entertainment new ways of connecting to the Internet have been incorporated into Windows XP. This enhanced use of the Internet can leave you open to attack, directly by hackers. This type of attack is usually not detected by anti-virus software.

Firewall software allows the information you want to leave the PC, and only the information you request to come down from the Internet.

Common Sense and Caution:

However the specialized software above loses some of its potency if common sense and caution are not also utilized. For instance, no companies send requests in email for account information, nobody will ask you for your password in an email or in a window that pops up. Account and password information will only be requested during a process that you begin yourself. I.e. on the Supanet website, their webmail function will ask for your account and password, but only when you click on the EMAIL button to begin the process.

Never open or preview emails that arrive from people you do not know, and to verify that emails from people you do know were definitely sent by them, agree a code that you can place in the Subject Line.

*your PC user guide

SPAM

Spam is a form of unsolicited email from marketing firms on the Internet, just like the ordinary mail you get through your letterbox, but emails can be of an adult nature or worse.

Always try to keep your primary email safe, just for friends and family. Create an alias for use when registering for newsletters on the Internet, as they may pass your details on to a spam organization, contact your Internet Service Provider (ISP) e.g. Supanet for more information about spam and ways to combat it. There are also software programs available that will filter spam out of your email.

Supanet is dedicated to preventing spam and has active filters on its servers that hunt for possible examples of spam. There are also websites dedicated to answering any further questions you might have about spam. Spam offenders are placed on a blacklist that prevents them from using their account from sending massive amounts of emails, effectively putting them out of business.

!NOTE: Never give your account or password details to anyone, apart from a Supanet or your own ISP advisor as this account could then be stolen and used for spamming other people. You would then be identified as a spammer yourself, and your account would be disabled.

Popups

Popups are adverts that appear in the middle of the screen at random while you are browsing the Internet, they can often be harmless and are a part of the website’s normal operation. But sometimes these Popups can be of an adult

nature or contain viruses.

When in doubt about a Popup use your

Task Manager to End the Process.

On your keyboard using the left hand hold down the Ctrl key (bottom left of the keyboard) and the Alt key (just to the right of Ctrl), now while still holding those keys down, press (once) the Delete key (just above the Arrow keys).

The "Task Manager" will show up with the Popup listed, click on it once with the mouse and then click on End Task, this will shut the Popup down safely.

You can also buy software that will prevent Popups from showing up, and some software will even prevent the Popup from being downloaded from the Internet, which will help to save your download time.