If you aren’t a heavy computer user, you may have never heard of spyware. Even if you have heard of it, you may have ignored all the buzz about spyware. After all, it isn’t that big a deal, right? Actually, spyware is a very serious problem. This software is designed to gather information about your financial and personal information, including all of your online activity. In the hands of someone who has created spyware, this information can cause a lot of damage. People who don’t know how unsafe it is to use computers without spyware protection are as open to attack as a bank that doesn’t lock the doors. If you are uninformed about spyware, it is time to learn how it works and how to protect your computer.

Spyware, as the name implies, is software that is created to spy on you in a way that allows it to go undiscovered. It collects all sorts of data, from where you go on the internet to what passwords you use. If this doesn’t worry you, you may not be thinking about all of the things you do on the internet, including shopping with your credit cards, online banking and even inputting your social security number on secure sites, such as online tax programs. The information that is gathered goes right to the creator of the spyware program, who can use the information to steal your identity, ruin your credit and do all sorts of additional damage.

So, how do you even get spyware on your computer when you don’t download programs or open email attachments? Unfortunately, spyware doesn’t need your help to arrive on your computer. All you have to do is visit an infected website. If you are without spyware protection, you’ll never even realize the website downloaded a program to your computer. It only takes seconds for the damage to occur and you don’t have to do anything to start the process. Simply visiting the site will trigger the download. Besides collecting information, some of these nasty little programs come with an unwelcome bonus – a trojan virus.

Knowing that websites can just download spyware doesn’t help if you don’t know which types of websites to avoid. Usually, if a website is set up to provide free downloads of porn, warez, or mp3s, it is set up so the owner can profit from unsuspecting victims. As you click on a download link for a cool new game, you are actually setting yourself up for a major mess. It looks like nothing bad happened, since you get the game and it seems to work. However, along with the game, a spyware maker will have added programs that look like innocent helper applications for the game, but are actually collecting your information. You find out what is going on when you are bombarded by useless junk mail and your computer slows to a turtle’s pace from all the viruses on your hard drive. Then, you get your credit card statements and realize that they are filled with charges someone else made.

Of course, spyware makers aren’t going to depend on just one way to get their nasty little surprise on your hard drive. They also love to include spyware with free software programs. Remember the old adage “You don’t get something for nothing.” whenever you decide to opt for free software instead of paying for an application from a reputable software manufacturer. Another trick that spyware makers have recently started using is requiring people who download their free movies or mp3s to use a media player they have created to play them. Of course, that media player comes complete with spyware and viruses.

You may be wondering how to find out whether you already are infected with spyware. The easiest way to see if something is going on is to look at your computer’s performance. Is it moving very slowly? Does it take a long time for your browser to respond? Do windows and ads you didn’t open pop up on your screen? Those are all signs that point to a spyware infestation on your computer.

Once you realize that you have a problem, you’ll need to deal with it right away. The easiest way is to get an anti-spyware program, such as Lavasoft Adaware or spybot Search and Destroy. They will clear up your current problem. Then, you should stop them from coming back with a combined protection plan that uses anti-virus software and a good firewall program. The anti-spyware program will catch any programs that somehow manage to get through the cracks.

Remember, spyware programs are nothing to fool around with. As annoying as it is to have popups opening faster than you can close them, having a big financial mess to clean up is even worse.

Seated comfortably in your office chair with your cup of coffee in the one hand and your mouse in the other – it’s amazing how convenient the click of a button can be for Internet banking and grocery shopping.

But many of us still ask how secure are my online transactions? Are my personal details protected? Is it safe to use my credit card on this site?

There is no reason why you should be afraid of transacting online. However, you should be vigilant and make security a priority. In doing so, you will eliminate the threats of cyber crime and enjoy a safe online environment.

So let’s examine some of these criminal online motivated threats to ensure you can correctly identify potential cyber attacks and be vigilant to these. Possessing knowledge of these threats coupled with a trusted security software protection on your PC and of course visiting trusted and secure Web sites (particularly when purchasing goods) will ensure that you do not become a victim of cyber crime.

Some of the most common cyber threats include identity theft, fraud, hacking and viruses. There are certain actions to help you maintain your online security and recognise, avoid and report criminal online activity, which include:

The Dos:

1.Do use a secure browser to help guard the security of your information as it is transmitted to a Web site.

2. Do choose complicated passwords and not the normal birthdays or pet names. Change your passwords regularly.

3. Do verify the site’s privacy policy before providing any personal and/or financial information.

4. Do have a look at disclosures around the Web site’s refund and shipping policies before purchasing items.

5. Do contact the company when you’re not sure about their terms and conditions.

6. Do install an effective anti-virus software program.

7. Do update your software regularly.

8. Do activate a firewall and make sure it is active at all times when transacting.

9. Do keep record of all your online transactions.

10. Do review your monthly credit card and bank statements to spot errors or unauthorised purchases.

11. Do trust your common sense and rather be safe than sorry.

12. Do report problems immediately to the company on whose site you are transacting on!

And now for the Don’ts:

1. Don’t select the option on Web browsers for saving or remembering user names and passwords.

2. Don’t do transactions like banking on a computer you’re not familiar with (such as computers at Internet caf

Seated comfortably in your office chair with your cup of coffee in the one hand and your mouse in the other – it’s amazing how convenient the click of a button can be for Internet banking and grocery shopping.

But many of us still ask how secure are my online transactions? Are my personal details protected? Is it safe to use my credit card on this site?

There is no reason why you should be afraid of transacting online. However, you should be vigilant and make security a priority. In doing so, you will eliminate the threats of cyber crime and enjoy a safe online environment.

So let’s examine some of these criminal online motivated threats to ensure you can correctly identify potential cyber attacks and be vigilant to these. Possessing knowledge of these threats coupled with a trusted security software protection on your PC and of course visiting trusted and secure Web sites (particularly when purchasing goods) will ensure that you do not become a victim of cyber crime.

Some of the most common cyber threats include identity theft, fraud, hacking and viruses. There are certain actions to help you maintain your online security and recognise, avoid and report criminal online activity, which include:

The Dos:

1.Do use a secure browser to help guard the security of your information as it is transmitted to a Web site.

2. Do choose complicated passwords and not the normal birthdays or pet names. Change your passwords regularly.

3. Do verify the site’s privacy policy before providing any personal and/or financial information.

4. Do have a look at disclosures around the Web site’s refund and shipping policies before purchasing items.

5. Do contact the company when you’re not sure about their terms and conditions.

6. Do install an effective anti-virus software program.

7. Do update your software regularly.

8. Do activate a firewall and make sure it is active at all times when transacting.

9. Do keep record of all your online transactions.

10. Do review your monthly credit card and bank statements to spot errors or unauthorised purchases.

11. Do trust your common sense and rather be safe than sorry.

12. Do report problems immediately to the company on whose site you are transacting on!

And now for the Don’ts:

1. Don’t select the option on Web browsers for saving or remembering user names and passwords.

2. Don’t do transactions like banking on a computer you’re not familiar with (such as computers at Internet caf

You can never deny the fact that the Internet is one of the most essential and one of the most important tools man uses today. Through the Internet, you will be able to chat with family and friends for free, do your groceries, shop for clothes, and through the Internet, you can also shop for real estate properties and cars.

Because of this technology, the Internet is now considered to be an important factor in life and in business. Many companies today are now using the Internet for advertising as well as a tool to sell their goods and services.

However, the Internet also has its drawbacks. Since it is connected to your computer, all your personal and financial information are exposed to other people. Having an Internet is like welcoming strangers in your own home and letting them install surveillance equipments right under your nose.

The thought of it could make anyone cringe. This is why there are companies today that develops software programs to protect you from malicious software, adware, spyware, and viruses. There are programs that even protect you from intruders that may access your personal files in your computer which may have your personal and financial information and use it to commit identity theft.

It is a fact that many people using the Internet without the proper protection from malicious softwares have been victimized by identity theft and suffered from huge financial losses and have also been involved in criminal cases that they didn’t even know they committed.

This is why you should protect your computer and yourself with an Internet security software to avoid being victimized by malicious software, hackers, identity thieves, and viruses. One kind of software that has a good reputation for fighting of this malicious software is called the McAfee Internet Security Suite 2006.

The McAfee Internet Security Suite 2006 contains all the necessary programs to protect you from malicious software circulating around the Internet. McAfee has a good reputation for warding of onlione threats and viruses.

The company has three versions of their software. One is for your Home and Home Office, the second is for small and medium businesses, and the last one is for enterprise and industries. Depending on the security level you need, you should get the software that suits your needs.

McAfee Internet Security Suite 2006 offers one of the best securities for every kind of computers. They offer automatic updates for virus and other malicious software definitions to better protect you from the new threats being created in the Internet everyday. McAfee also offer protection from the different kinds of spyware.

Other benefits of McAfee Internet Security Suite 2006 are that it’s very easy to use, and is able to provide the best Internet security available. With features that enable zero-day protection and successfully blocks spyware and malware, McAfee is definitely the choice of many people around the world when it comes to online security.

McAfee Internet Security Suite 2006 is readily available for purchase in the McAfee website. All you have to do is click on the buy now link, enter your credit card information and download the complete version of the program. Or, you can download the free demo version if you want to try it out first before buying. If you have owned previous versions of McAfee Internet Security before, you know how efficient it gets to protect you from malicious software and viruses.

The Internet is an exciting place where you can have loads of fun but it can be wild and dangerous! As general users we only scratch the surface of the internet but it’s a highly complex environment that’s rife with opportunities for less-than-ethical individuals ready to take advantage of your business and information.

It’s easy to think, with the security software you’re already running that you don’t have to worry and everything is taken care of. Unfortunately, that’s one of the ways these individuals cause businesses so much damage.

The Dangers

The methods they use are varied. For example they:

Create websites that are active for just a few hours to deliver malicious software and then replace them with different but dangerous websites. Deliver viruses through temporary ‘poisoning’ of a legitimate website.

So What Can You Do About It?

As I mention in my blog on protecting your business be careful about what you access on the internet.

Provide your staff with guidelines on acceptable use of the internet. Think twice about great deals or prize selections sent via email. Take advantage of new software on the market that is designed to help you cope with these new challenges.

A Solution To The Challenge

There is a whole host of software available that gives you powerful, easy-to-use internet protection that works efficiently and unobtrusively in the background. This lets you focus on running your business, not worrying about security.

Don’t let others cause problems to your business, so take control before they do.

Problem free computing will be reality.

The explosive growth of the Internet has meant that thousands of people are today experiencing the joys of being online for the first time. With growth there always comes pain. Be it your growing pains as a child or the growth and development of this part of our culture called the Internet.

Firstly we need to quickly explain what the Internet is and where it came from. The Internet is the offspring of a military project called Arpanet. Arpanet was designed to provide reliable communication during global nuclear war. A vast network of interconnected computers was set up all over the world to allow the various branches of US and NATO forces to communicate with each other.

Nuclear war never came (thankfully) and the world was left with a massive network of computers all connected together with nothing to do. Colleges and universities started to use these computers for sharing research internationally. From there it grew and spread outside colleges to local homes and businesses. The World Wide Web was born and its father was a guy called Tim Berners Lee.

When you’re connected to the Internet you’re sharing a vast network with hundreds of millions of other users. This shared network provides resources that 15 years ago were never thought possible. Unfortunately when something is shared its open to abuse. On the Internet this abuse comes from hackers and virus creators. Their sole intent is to cause chaos and/or harm to your computer system and millions of other computer systems all over the world.

How do you combat this? You need an Internet security system. This might sound complicated but your Internet security system will be quite straightforward being comprised of just 2 – 3 Internet security products. We’ll look at each of these products in more detail now:

Antivirus Software

The first and most critical element of your Internet security system is antivirus software. If you don’t have up-to-date antivirus software on your PC you’re asking for trouble. 300 new viruses appear each month and if you’re not constantly protecting your system against this threat your computer will become infected with at least one virus – it’s only a matter of time.

Antivirus software scans your PC for signatures of a virus. A virus signature is the unique part of that virus. It can be a a file name, how the virus behaves or the size of the virus file itself. Good antivirus software will find viruses that haven’t yet infected your PC and eliminate the ones that have.

Antivirus software can only protect your computer from viruses trying to infect it via email, CD-Rom, floppy disk, Word documents or other types of computer files. Antivirus software alone will not keep your computer 100% safe. You also need to use firewall software.

Firewall Software

The use of firewall software by home computer users is a relatively new occurrence. All Internet connections are a two way process. Data must be sent and received by your computer. This data is sent through something called ports. These are not physical things rather aspects of the way your computer communicates online.

Firewall software watches these ports to make sure that only safe communication is happening between your computer and other computers online. If it sees something dangerous happening it blocks that port on your computer to make sure your computer stays safe from the person who is trying to hack into your system.

An easier way to understand a firewall would be to picture your computer as an apartment complex. At the front door of this complex there is a security guard. Every person who enters the complex must pass this security guard. If the security guard recognizes the person entering as a resident he allows them to pass without saying anything. If, however, the person entering the complex is unknown to him then he will stop that person and ask for identification. If they have no business being at the apartment complex he escorts them from the building.

If you are not currently using firewall software your computer will get hacked into – that’s a guarantee.

Popup Blocker

You can get a good popup blocker at no cost. An easy way to do this is to install either the Google or Yahoo toolbar. Both of these come with popup blockers built in. Popup are not necessarily dangerous but are a nuisance and using either of these toolbars will make your life that bit easier.

A simple rule for practicing online security is: “If in doubt then don’t”. If you don’t recognize the file, the email address, the website or if your gut feeling says “no” then don’t click that button.

Seated comfortably in your office chair with your cup of coffee in the one hand and your mouse in the other – it’s amazing how convenient the click of a button can be for Internet banking and grocery shopping.

But many of us still ask how secure are my online transactions? Are my personal details protected? Is it safe to use my credit card on this site?

There is no reason why you should be afraid of transacting online. However, you should be vigilant and make security a priority. In doing so, you will eliminate the threats of cyber crime and enjoy a safe online environment.

So let’s examine some of these criminal online motivated threats to ensure you can correctly identify potential cyber attacks and be vigilant to these. Possessing knowledge of these threats coupled with a trusted security software protection on your PC and of course visiting trusted and secure Web sites (particularly when purchasing goods) will ensure that you do not become a victim of cyber crime.

Some of the most common cyber threats include identity theft, fraud, hacking and viruses. There are certain actions to help you maintain your online security and recognise, avoid and report criminal online activity, which include:

The Dos:

1.Do use a secure browser to help guard the security of your information as it is transmitted to a Web site.

2. Do choose complicated passwords and not the normal birthdays or pet names. Change your passwords regularly.

3. Do verify the site’s privacy policy before providing any personal and/or financial information.

4. Do have a look at disclosures around the Web site’s refund and shipping policies before purchasing items.

5. Do contact the company when you’re not sure about their terms and conditions.

6. Do install an effective anti-virus software program.

7. Do update your software regularly.

8. Do activate a firewall and make sure it is active at all times when transacting.

9. Do keep record of all your online transactions.

10. Do review your monthly credit card and bank statements to spot errors or unauthorised purchases.

11. Do trust your common sense and rather be safe than sorry.

12. Do report problems immediately to the company on whose site you are transacting on!

And now for the Don’ts:

1. Don’t select the option on Web browsers for saving or remembering user names and passwords.

2. Don’t do transactions like banking on a computer you’re not familiar with (such as computers at Internet caf

Recently a computer security expert stated that the only way to keep a computer 100% safe was to never turn it on. It turns out this inaccurate and a little misleading. A computer used solely to type up and print out documents, never connected to the Internet and that never received files transferred from some other computer, could in fact be a useful 100% secure computer system. This brings us to the two main ways viruses and other malware get on a computer: through a network like the Internet and file transfers from other computers.

Users want to attach computers to the Internet and receive emails, instant messages; browse web pages, download music and fun software etc. The problem is that this puts not just millions but billions of people at their doorstep! Imagine that if billions of people could reach a home instantly ? how many ill intentioned people would come by to see if the doors and windows were secured? How many con artists would knock on the door? An Internet connected computer is in just that predicament.

When a computer is connected to a network by design it starts listening for communications from the outside world. Things known as ports get created which are special ?doors? to the computer. These doors are special because they each have a designated program that will answer the door if it is knocked on. Examples of programs that listen for traffic from the network include:

1. instant messaging programs
2. Internet phone software
3. software for connecting to the computer from remote locations
4. Internet games

Even the operating system itself opens ports to share files or a printer or anything else on the computer. Each of those programs creates a ?door? to a computer that it will answer if someone ?knocks? on it. If that program is poorly designed then when it answers the ?knocking? program could take advantage of it and thus compromise the computer.

In addition to people being able to come across the Internet and knock on one of the ?doors? mentioned above – by using a web browser and surfing the Internet users are inviting people to access their computers. Every time a web site is browsed the web browser is downloading files to the computer and processing them. If that web browser is not programmed properly it is a huge security risk. For example on December 12 of 2008 Microsoft reported a big security hole in all versions of its Internet Explorer browser. The hole permitted data stealing software to be installed on the victim?s computer just by browsing an infected web page! Other examples of programs that invite access to your computer:

? Email programs
? File sharing and music sharing programs (by far one of the largest security risks)
? Instant messaging software

So aside from isolating a computer from the outside world, how can one protect a computer system? Here are some tips:

1. Don?t use Internet Explorer as your main browser. I am not bashing Microsoft or Internet Explorer particularly and something should be made clear: It is not necessarily that other browsers are programmed so much better but that 80% of people surfing the Internet are using Internet Explorer. Thus thieves interested in gaining access to the maximum amount of victims are going to spend most of their efforts exploiting the security holes of the browser that 80% of the people are using.
2. Put a firewall between your internal network and the Internet. A firewall?s job is to keep out those billions of people who can be at your doorstep instantaneously. It will only allow those you invite to knock on your computer?s door.
3. Use a Firewall on each individual computer. The network firewall mentioned above is a big step toward protecting the internal network. The problem is that it generally won?t protect users from themselves. A user browsing a website is telling the network firewall that it has given an invitation to that website and to permit files from that site to come through. If the user browses an infected website with a browser that has a security hole a virus will get into the network. If it is a certain type of virus it could start replicating itself within the local network. A computer firewall defends against this sort of problem.
4. Update your operating system and browsers. Security holes are constantly found in all operating systems and all browsers. Software updates patch these holes.
5. Use a good and up-to-date antivirus and spyware program. These programs help prevent damage from viruses that do make it to your system.
6. Backup your data. Short of isolating a computer it is impossible to 100% secure a system. If you backup your data then should the worst occur having good backups will prevent disaster.

The above represents the basics and go a long way to protecting computer systems.