Simple Rules For PC Protection

The growth in Internet popularity is followed by a growth in immoral and criminal activities on the web. Hackers, crackers, web bullies, identity thieves, all of them and more are out there in the cyber world. They invent new methods every day for attacking PCs and networks to use in criminal activities. Every person with a computer is exposed to it. This is why Internet security has become such an important topic in the last few years. When you go online you must know how to protect yourself.

Following are ten simple rules that you can follow in order to protect your PC and privacy:



Click Wisely - When you surf the web you probably come across different ads and messages prompting you to click on them and approve downloading. A lot of these are innocent, but some can hide executable files that can infect your PC. Files that end with .exe, .com, .bat, and .scr, as well as, scriptable document files including .doc and .xls may be dangerous and turn out to be malware. You have to think carefully before downloading a file to your PC. Download files only from websites you know and trust.

Protect Your Passwords - Tailor your PC and Internet passwords so they won't be detected by hackers. Use strong passwords and change them frequently. A strong password is a combination of at least seven characters with a mix of lower and uppercase letters and digits. It is important to use a variety of passwords. If you use the same password for all of your accounts and PCs it may result in total exposure if the password reaches the wrong hands. Make up new words for your passwords; hackers can easily guess passwords that are made up of common words. It is important that all the users that are defined on your PC have unique passwords.

Use a Firewall - You can think of a firewall as a shell around your computer protecting it from incoming attacks. An active firewall is a necessity these days if you spend time on the Internet. If you are using windows XP OS(=Operating System), you already have a firewall installed. You just need to make sure that it is activated.

To enable the firewall, follow these instruction:


Click 'Start' > 'Setting' > 'Control Panel' , and then click 'Network Connections'.
Double-click on your active Internet connection, click 'Properties', and then select the 'Advanced' tab.
In the 'Advanced' tab, in the 'Windows Firewall' group box click 'Settings', and then select 'On'.


If your operating system does not include a firewall you should install one.


Use Anti-virus Software - Computer viruses, worms, trojan horses and much more can penetrate your computer (by email attachment, by file sharing) without being detected by the firewall. It is important to have software that can handle such penetration. An anti-virus software works from inside the computer detecting malware and deleting it. A good anti-virus will also scan email attachments and downloads before they can harm your PC. It is very important to update the anti-virus software all the time in order for it to stay relevant and handle new threats.

Use Anti-spyware Software - Anti-spyware software can increase your PC security a great deal. Nowadays many malware attacks originate in spyware. In addition to a firewall and an anti-virus you should install and run anti-spyware software.

Secure Your Internet Browser - The first step in securing your Internet browser is choosing the most secure one. Currently, IE (=Internet Explorer) is the most popular Internet browser. As such, malicious hackers made it their number one target and set out to exploit its flaws. It also has a the disadvantage of relying on ActiveX technology, which allows web sites to run executable programs on your PC via your browser. Although there is an improvement in security in IE 7 compared to older versions, this technology is still vulnerable. Mozilla's Firefox is the most popular IE alternative. Like IE, it is also a target for hackers. In order to minimize the risk it may be safer to use a less popular browser such as, Opera browser or Google Chrome browser. No matter which browser you choose, remember to keep it updated in order to deal with new Internet threats.
If you are set on using IE it is a good idea to deactivate ActiveX technology.

To disable ActiveX in IE 6 and IE 7:

Open a browser page, and then click 'Tools' > 'Internet Options'.
On the 'Internet Options' dialog box click the 'Security' tab, and then click 'Custom Level'.
On the 'Security Settings - Internet zone' dialog box, scroll down to 'Run ActiveX controls and plug-ins' and select 'Disable'.
On the 'Custom Level' dialog box click 'OK', and then on the 'Internet Options' dialog box click 'OK'.

To enable ActiveX on a trusted site in IE 6 and IE 7:

Open a browser page, and then click 'Tools' > 'Internet Options'.
On the 'Internet Options' dialog box click the 'Security' tab, select 'Trusted Sites' and then click 'Sites'.
In the 'Trusted Sites' dialog box, in the 'Add this website to the zone' text box, enter the site address, and then click 'Add'.
Clear the 'Require server verification...' checkbox for all sites in this zone, and then click 'Close'.
On the 'Internet options' dialog box, click 'OK'.


If you choose to keep ActiveX enabled you will surely encounter websites in which you will be asked to install their ActiveX control on your PC. Make sure this control is safe and legitimate before doing so.

You can also raise the security level of IE browser. To do so:

Open a browser page, and then click 'Tools' > 'Internet Options'.
On the 'Internet Options' dialog box click the 'Security' tab, and then click 'Custom Level'.
On the 'Security Settings - Internet zone' dialog box, in the 'Reset custom settings' group box, select 'High' and then click 'OK'.
On the 'Internet Options' dialog box, click 'OK'.



Always Upgrade to The Latest OS(=Operating System) Service Pack - There are types of malware that exploit weaknesses in operating systems. Due to its popularity the most attacked OS is Microsoft Windows operating system (in all versions). The best way to protect your computer is to install a different operating system such as Ubuntu Linux. Linux operating system is usually less attacked by malware.
No matter what OS you choose, upgrade regularly to the latest service pack in order to be protected from new threats.

Secure Your Wireless Network - If you are using a wireless network it is important that you protect yourself from people who are trying to use it without your knowledge.
First change the default name of your Wi-Fi network in order to prevent "drive around" hackers from thinking you are an easy target. Make sure to encrypt your network; use a strong WPA2 protection standard.
You can also hide your Wi-Fi network by hiding your SSID broadcast and implementing MAC address filtering. Most Wi-Fi access points and routers have this feature set to 'disabled' as a default setting. It is recommended to enable this feature in order to improve the security of your Wi-Fi network. Without MAC address filtering any wireless client can join the Wi-Fi network if they know the network name (also called the SSID) and a few other security parameters like encryption keys. When you set MAC address filtering feature you should create a white list of clients that will be allowed to join the network and enter those MAC addresses into a configuration screen of the wireless access point or router, then switch on the filtering option. Once enabled, whenever the wireless access point or router receives a request to join with the Wi-Fi network, it compares the MAC address of that client against the white list you have entered. Clients on the list authenticated; clients not on the list are denied any access to the Wi-Fi network.

Be careful when using unsecured connections of neighbors or free public connections. Sometimes there are just Wi-Fi networks of people who didn't bother to take protection measures, but they may also be traps set up by hackers in order to get your personal information. If you must use a public connection make sure you encrypt your outgoing data and don't sign on to financial accounts.


Secure Your Email - The majority of malware is being spread by emails. It is important to take measures in order to make your email more secure. As a first step always use a trusted email client. Many email clients can deliver your emails but it doesn't mean that they protect your PC and personal information in the process. It is important that the email client you are using has basic features, which protect your PC, such as, filtering unwanted messages from your inbox and scanning email attachments for computer viruses. Use a first-rate email client, such as, Google Mail.

It is also recommended to carefully monitor emails with attachments. When you download an email attachment to your PC it is not checked by your firewall. Many hackers use spam emails in order to spread malware. Don't open or download attachments from an unknown sender. Opening attachments that were send from friends may also be a risk if their PC was infected by malware. Make sure that the email makes sense to you before you open its attachments.
Be careful with emails that have links. Hackers and spammers sometimes use links in order to seduce you to enter malicious websites and get your personal information. These emails can seem like authentic emails from your bank or from some service provider. If you get such an email it is better to open a new browser page and enter the URL of the legitimate business manually to check if the email is legit, or contact the service provider and check it out.

Another protection measure you can take is to set up customized filtering options on your emails. Most ISPs provide spam filtering, but you can make it more effective by customizing it yourself. For example, Google mail allows you to create aliases for your email and you will get all of the emails to the same inbox. When subscribing to a new service or newsletter you can create a new alias and if you find that this alias is being used for spam or malicious intentions you can just delete it. If you are using an email client that does not give the feature of aliases then you can create a few free emails accounts (directing them to your main email account) and use them in the same way as aliases.


Disable File Sharing On Your PC - Sometimes you allow file sharing on your PC so people who have legitimate access to it can easily reach these files. This can be dangerous if you are using Wi-Fi network that is very public like in universities or airports. You are exposing your PC to strangers that are on the same network. If you didn't disabled file sharing these people can get access to your files. It is important to disable file sharing access from foreign computers.

For more information on how to protect your PC and personal information go to - In3Go - Internet Security Information

12 Rules Of Spyware Safety

Unprotected computer or computer without any security tool is always vulnerable to cyber criminals, hackers, spammers and identity thieves. So, to avoid such security problems and identity theft, you should always have security software with some essential features such as firewall, antivirus etc.

If knowledge is power, then after you have finished this article, you will be feel like Mighty Man when this subject is brought up in casual conversation.

The next 12 essential security tools can help you to safeguard your identity, special information and figures on your computer, so that you can breakers the internet without any terror of identity theft, hacking, viruses, spywares etc.

Firewall is essential to hinder the unauthorized access to your computer figures. It monitors the inbound and outbound transfer from your computer to the internet and hinders any suspicious transfer. complex and code firewall is mandatory to hinder the uncertain transfer and working method firewall is crucial to safeguard your working method and your figures.

1. complex and code firewall:

Do you feel as though you have a firm grasp of the basics of this subject? If so, then you are ready to read the next part.

Complex and code firewall safeguards your system and computer from suspicious transfer and safeguard your codes from malware. For high turn of security, it should be a multi-layer firewall or with several layers of security.

2. working method firewall:

Some internet security software also affords working method firewall to safeguard your working method. This security tool hinders any malicious software from causing wound to archive in your sample windows working method. It also hinders account of hard to detach spyware with kernel-turn threats to computer to safeguard your working method from any wound.

3. broad secrecy method:

broad secrecy method is mandatory to make you unnoticed to hackers, even when you are united to net, so that you can access the internet without any terror of receiving hacked.

4. defiant virus:

defiant virus is crucial to safeguard your computer from wounds by viruses, worms and trojans. Viruses and worms reach from one computer to another both through e-packages or from archive downloaded from internet. Viruses and worms can wreck your archive and erase figures on your computer. So, to safeguard your figures and your hard diskette, you should always have efficient opposing virus code with the hottest definition archive.

5. defiant spyware:

defiant spyware safeguards your computer from spywares and intruders to safeguard your special information. Spywares get installed on your computer without your consent or erudition and take monitor of your computer, collect your special figures, information, web activities and web locates you stay and transmit that figures to others.

6. entire Spy position Blocking:

Spyware distribution web locates are the chief supply for spywares. sanctuary software with broad spy locate hindering include can hinder these weblocates and also hinders you from staying these locates by accident.

7. character theft safe guardion:

today, identity theft is a chief challenge on internet. With redouble in e-export, online exchange and praise license running on internet, safeguardion against identity theft is crucial to safeguard your identity and special information on your computer. So, identity theft safe guardion is a must security tool while accessing the internet.

8. honestly time updates:

Your computer should have hottest updates or unfeigned time updates against viruses, spywares and any new probable strikes.

9. defiant Spam, defiant Phishing, forward safe guardion:

Phishing packages is a sting, which looks like a correspondence from a lean or institution to collect your special information or lean facts. defiant spam, opposing phishing and epackages safe guardion is crucial to safeguard you from phishing e-packagess and e-packages fraud.

10. time messaging safe guardion:

Hackers, spammers, spywares and viruses can strike your minute messaging sitting. IM messaging safe guardion safeguards your minute messaging sitting from these strikes. You can also use this tool to curb your kid to use minute messengers only with trusted people.

11. Parental monitor:

This include is crucial to check your kids from accessing inappropriate web locates and objectionable content on web locates.

12. esteem license Monitoring alerts:

Some internet security software also afford praise license monitoring alerts which alert you if your praise license number appears online. This tool is very helpful if you use your praise license on internet for transactions.

The next time you have questions regarding this subject, you can refer back to this article as a handy guide.

There are hundreds of Adware deletion programs on the push. Your best bet is to go to a place like Spybot Download It lists the best Adware Removers presently on the push. Or just google the speak "adware remover". Like I said, you'll find hundreds. Some are good, some aren't. Free Spybot is a great situate for you to see which ones work, but I know some of you just like to google, and that's approval too ;). Just get one, I feel bad having to current so wholly for something so nominal.

Get Your Independent Guide to Spybot Downloads

Top Eleven Internet Safety Rules & Tips For Teenagers & Children

The internet is a valuable source of information for your children to use in their studies. It is also filled with dangers that must be avoided.

You can find pornography, internet sexual predators, pedophiles, cyber-bullies, con artists, hackers etc... all over the internet landscape.

With that in mind what can we do to help protect our kids from internet dangers? What advice can we give them? What rules should we lay down? How do we educate them on how to stay safe when on the internet?

Here is some advice you can use &/or offer your children:

*1. Never use your real name on the internet, especially in chat rooms or forums. There is no reason to give out that information and it is very dangerous to do so. Instead use a screen name. It can actually be fun to come up with a unique and interesting name to use.

*2. Never give out any personal information such as your name (see #1), the names of friends or relatives, your address, phone number, school you attend, places you hang out at, credit card numbers, internet passwords etc... Any of this information that you provide can create safety issues.

*3. Never post, email, or mail your picture or those of relatives, friends, your school, house, neighborhood, etc... that can be used by a person looking to identify you and or locate you. Just like your screen name, you can post some pretty fun images as your profile image without using your photo.

*4. If you ever get an email or message on the internet that seems threatening, intimidating, too personal or just makes you feel uncomfortable, immediately save it and notify your parents so that they can take action to prevent anything from happening.

*5. Absolutely never agree to meet anyone offline that you meet online. This is about as serious a danger as you can come across. Never agree to meet any online acquaintance at a specified location. If you are pressured to do so, or asked repeatedly, inform your parents immediately!

*6. Stay away from private chat rooms where you can be inappropriately pressured or solicited by a stranger. Stay in a public chat room or forum where others are present. Never use web cams!

*7. Instant massages are popular but can open your computer to hackers. I would never use one of these services myself and certainly would never allow one of my children to use one.

*8. Keep your child's computer in a family area, not behind closed doors or in their bedrooms. It will make it easier for you to monitor their activity.

*9. Limit the time your child uses the computer. If they know they only have a certain amount of time to accomplish their goals then they will be less likely to aimlessly surf the net and come across security risks or inappropriate content.

*10. Never respond to a threatening email or message. Notify your parents immediately and let them handle it with the service provider and authorities.

*11. Have your children ask permission before they go onto the internet. This is important as it makes them aware you know they are online and gives you a heads-up to be alert to their activity.

If you enforce these "Top Eleven Internet Safety Rules & Tips for Teenagers & Children" will go a long way to help insure their safety online.

I urge you to read my detailed report: Cyber-Bullying Suicides

It provides valuable information on internet safety for teenagers & children.

Internet Rules For Kids

Age-appropriate article

Raising a child in a digital world can be a daunting task. The Internet is ubiquitous in children's lives and as a parent, you need to set limits and guidelines on what your kids are doing online. Different age groups require different rules. As your child grows older he or she will require more personal freedom online, and it is important that they are prepared for this from responsibility and confidence that has been instilled in them from a young age. Here is a general age-appropriate guideline that you can follow to teach Internet responsibility to your kids.

0-7:

In this age category kids are usually not familiar with or using instant messaging, social networking, or participating in chat rooms. However, they are still probably online at times, therefore safety measures still must be taken. As a parent, talk to fellow parents and teachers to see what kind of safe-sites there are for kids. As well, make use of directories for kids. Use kid search engines such as 'yahoo kids' or 'ask for kids.' Here are some examples of relevant sites:

http://www.wiredsafety.org - Internet safety and help group

Awesome Library - 14,000 carefully reviewed resources

Berit's Best Sites - Directory of kids' web sites maintained by Berit Erickson

Britannica - Websites, magazines, books and the Encyclopedia Britannica

Dibdabdoo - Metasearch DMOZ - Yahooligans - Kids Click

INFOMINE - Scholarly Internet resources in K-12

KidsWeb - Mid-Continent Public Library kid's directory

SuperKids SuperSearch - Kid friendly search site

http://www.kidsclick.org - Kid friendly search engine

It is also advised to invest in a parental control blocker. This takes the worry out of not knowing whether or not your kids are visiting unpleasant websites, and reduces the risk of them stumbling onto bad sites.

When your kids are at this age it is appropriate for you to know all of their usernames and passwords. Make sure that your children know this, and discuss what sites they like to go to. Do not allow your kids to post any profiles or personal information at this age, and limit their online activity to around an hour per day.

8-10:

As kids reach this stage in life, cell phones and instant messaging are starting to enter the picture, so the proper precautions must be taken. Kids also may start lying about their age in order to gain access to certain sites and social networks, such as MySpace.com, Facebook.com, etc.

This is also the age where bullying can become prevalent in forums and chat rooms. However, kids may be reluctant to tell their parents because they are not supposed to be on these sites anyways.

Peer-To-Peer (P2P) file-sharing can become a problem at this age when kids start playing games and sharing music online. This can lead to a computer being inundated with spyware and adware.

What should parents do?

First of all if you are not using a parental control filtering device you should get one, and strengthen the filter to your liking. You should also be pre-approving your kids' IM contact list to make sure there aren't any unfamiliar names on it. Make sure you are using anti-spyware, antivirus and pop-up blockers to combat any unwanted, annoyances that may try to attach to your hard drive. You should still be trying to keep your kids on child-safe search engines at this point. Teach them not to respond to strangers online and to notify you immediately if they encounter any. Stick to limiting online activity to about an hour or so a day for this age group.

10-12:

At this stage, interactive technologies such as instant messaging, email and cell phones are very much a part of most kids' life. Kids are growing socially and are looking to expand their personal network through programs such as Myspace and Facebook.

Parents should further tighten the parental controls filter for this age. Keep an open-dialogue with your kids and make sure that you are still educating them on Internet safety. As well, parents should be looking for signs of cyber-bullying at this age.

Be sure to carefully observe any profiles, screen names and websites that your kids are posting online. Make sure they are aware that they are not allowed to share photos, blogs or webcams without your permission.

It is still a good idea to try to learn your kids' passwords at this age. However, they will begin to resist at this age, so it will most likely end up being quite the communications challenge. However, you should definitely still be pre-approving your kids' contact lists at this point.

Search your computer regularly for any taboo images, pirated music or media files. You can also use Google Alerts to automatically notify you in any online activity attached to your child's screen name turns up in a Google search. This can be very effective.

Limit your kids' time to 1.5-2 hours online.

13-15:

Kids are at the highest risk of online and offline encounters with strangers at this age. They are becoming very social and curious and are trying new things online. This is also the age where cyber-bullying and sexual harassment are at their peak. Kids are often talking in forums and social networks and are subject to abuse from other people online. From fear of peer-pressure and social ostracization, many kids are unlikely to tell adults if they are being bullied or sexually harassed online.

Parents should still be pre-approving social networking and dating sites at this time. Try to keep your kids off of P2P or pirated software sites. Instead, offer them services such as iTunes or other legitimate media sites.

It is important to teach your kids to guard their passwords and not divulge any personal information that can come back to haunt them. Make sure that your computer is in a central location in order to monitor your kids' online activity. Limit your kids' time online to 2 hours at this age.

16 and up:

This is the age when kids begin to leave the cyber-nest. They will do what they want at this age so it is important that you have already prepared and educated them for anything that they may encounter online. It is time to trust them to do the right thing.

However, you can still give friendly reminders about being responsible online. Enforce conversation about the risks of sharing personal information online and teach them to Google themselves regularly to monitor anything that might be said about them. Make sure they are using antivirus and security firewalls. As well, advise them to check regularly for adware and spyware on their PCs. Also, strongly suggest that your kids refrain from using a webcam. Remind them that once something has been posted online, it is for good, and they will have no control over what will happen to it.

It is important for your kids to know that even though they are now independent, they should still feel comfortable coming to you if anything goes wrong while they are surfing the net.

Ryan Hagen
http://www.paretologic.com
http://www.safesurfer.org