Security Measures That Can Keep You Safe Online

There is a wide range of anti-virus programs available. CNet's website is quite telling. There are numerous anti-virus programs to choose from, both free and paid options, not to mention those that also require yearly renewal fees. View Top Rated Anti-Virus software options and decide which best meets your needs.

Each anti-virus program has its pros and cons. Some try to take total control of your computer in the name of security while others require many resources that can slow down the response time of your computer. No matter which anti-virus option you select, the virus definitions must be kept current or the program will not be able to continue to guard against viruses.

As of this writing, AVG Free is the highest rated anti-virus software on CNet's website. In our experience, we have found that this software option offers a high level of protection from viruses and spyware while not bogging down your computing experience overall. And best yet, it is free! Why paid for software with an option like this? This program does require a small download and offers a worry-free Internet experience.

Email is used to keep in touch with loved ones as well as making business contacts. On a daily basis, we are inundated with email from strangers making offers that honestly sound too good to be true. These unsolicited emails that are offering services for a fee, for example, should be looked at with extreme caution. If something sounds too good to be true, then it usually is. These types of email contacts are known as SPAM. Their sole purpose is to obtain personal information from you, such as your social security number, bank account number or even a credit card number.

If you receive an attachment with an email from an unknown source. Do no open it no matter how tempting it may be. For if you do, it may alter your computer, or even start generating email messages to everyone in your address book. This is how viruses and worms work. They hide themselves on your computer and can be quite nasty. Some have even been known to cause a loss of Internet speed, utilize all available resources, or even damage the computer itself.

With this in mind, even receiving an email with an attachment from someone you know, you still need to use caution. This false sence of safety is how an emailed virus/worm gets in. If you follow the same rule mentioned above, if it sounds too good to be true, then it is...even when coming from a known source.

Some website's primary purpose is be a disservice to each visitor by causing much grief and frustration. There are a number of websites that require a download in order to view their content. There are legitimate downloads on gaming sites, such as a Flash plug-in or Acrobat Reader, for example. However, there are a number of sites that require you to download some unknown program before viewing the content. Unknowingly, this download may be installing a Trojan horse or possibly even an auto-dialer that will dial international numbers via your modem. When these dialers are installed, you may be charges with high overage fees by your Internet Service Provider and a $1,000 phone bill with a dialup service! Yikes! Then, you would have to contact your local phone company in hopes that they will reduce your charges. Unfortunately, many phone companies may only reverse 10%, if at all.

If you are not 100% confident that the download from a website is legitimate, don't do it. Research the request first by entering the name of the download in a search tool, as it is provided at the top of this page. Once you have determined that it is safe, then return to the website and initiate the download. You cannot be too cautious when dealing with the good and the bad our world has to offer.

Pop-Ups and Pop-Over ads serve a purpose, but can be annoying. We are often inundated with advertisements while surfing the Internet. To help reduce or eliminate the unwelcomed pop-ups you will need a pop-up blocker. There are many options to choose from. We offer a pop-up blocker with our web accelerator program. Another option is to download a browser toolbar that includes a pop-up blocker, like the Google Toolbar. When downloading a toolbar, be aware that many can take up system resources causing the Internet browser to become unresponsive.

Any machine that is used on the internet must be kept current to remain productive. It is also critical that your operating system be kept up to date. Spammers and hackers quickly learn the vulnerabilities of a specific operating system and use this knowledge to hack into your machine. By always installing the Critical Updates sent by Microsoft for all Windows operating systems and periodically running the Windows Update program, you can ensure that your computer is secured while on the Internet.

By installing a firewall client, you are shutting that door that is opened while surfing the Internet. A free firewall client can monitor those who are attempting to walk through that opened doorway.