7 Tips for Good Internet Security ...

By Jennifer

7 Tips for Good Internet Security ...

If you’ve ever gotten a computer virus, you know how frustrating it can be. Of course, the best way to get rid of a virus is to not get one in the first place… but how? Here are my seven tips for good Internet security.

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1

Install a Firewall

Install a Firewall Photo Credit: maybemaq

Nowadays, most computers come with a firewall already installed, but some don’t. If you’re running a newer version of Windows, then it would have come with Windows defender, a great anti-virus and firewall software. If you’re not sure whether you have a firewall installed, open a web browser and check the Tools options. It ought to be listed under the “security” section.

2

Use Updated Virus Software

Use Updated Virus Software Photo Credit: The Photique

If you’re using an older, out-of-date virus protection software, then you’re not protected against anything new the hackers develop and put out there. You might as well not have anything at all! My top choices are Norton or McAfee. When it’s time to renew, make sure you invest the $50 per year. It’s worth every penny!

3

Beware of Phishing

Beware of Phishing Photo Credit: Pieter Musterd

If you use online banking, or if you keep track of any of your charge cards online, then you may be the target of phishing scams, in which some unsavory character tries to trick you into giving them your secure information, like a social security number, login, or password. The e-mail will look legitimate, like it came from your real bank or credit card company, but it’s fake, all of them are fake! Your bank or credit card company, or even PayPal or eBay, will NEVER ask for your login info or anything else in an email! Beware!

4

Avoid Porn!

Avoid Porn! Photo Credit: yoshiko314

Have you ever been curious and clicked on a link, then got caught in a porn-nado? Most of those sites have tracker cookies and spy-bots built-in, so once you click on one, you’ll get an endless array of pop-ups and viruses. If you’re a sneaky little thing that likes to peek at porn, make sure you’re using a reputable site, and avoid the rest.

5

If It Sounds Too Good to Be True…

If you get an email from someone in a foreign country asking you to exchange money, cash a check, or wire money to them in exchange for a massive reward, delete it. It’s a scam! If it sounds too good to be true, it is. Just delete the poorly-worded, grammatical nightmare of an email and move on…

Famous Quotes

If you would take, you must first give, this is the beginning of intelligence.

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6

Look for the “S” (and the Lock)

Look for the “S” (and the Lock) Photo Credit: Ngọc Hà

If you’re using a secure site for shopping or banking, look at the address in your tool bar. The beginning of the address will say “https” instead of just “http.” The extra “S” means the site is “secure” or “safe.” Also, some browsers will display a little lock icon in the tray at the bottom of your screen when you’re using a secure site. Good to know!

7

Use a Good Browser

Use a Good Browser Photo Credit: flod

Despite Microsoft’s loud protests to the contrary, Internet Explorer has long been a weak target for hackers and virus-makers. If you notice your computer is virus-prone, try using a new web browser, like Mozilla FireFox or Apple Safari. Both are free to download and are safer to use.

Stick to these rules and the chances of you getting a hard-drive corrupting, porn-nado causing virus are slim to none. There’s nothing worse than losing valuable songs from your iTunes or even worse, money, from an Internet scam or virus! What other rules for Internet safety do you use? Do you have any other tips to share? Please let me know!

Top Photo Credit: kktp_

Feedback Junction

Where Thoughts and Opinions Converge

Thanks for these useful tips Jen. As we use mostly of our time on the Internet, protection ans awereness are very use full! Thos junk emails that we receive are so hate full. If they were all true, with all those YOU WON EMAILS, I would be a billionaire at the moment! Lol!!

Sheila: I give my dad lectures about spam and viruses all the time. Hahaha

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