With hackers, fraudsters and cyber criminals of all persuasions roaming the net, it makes sense to be fully protected. We guide you through the fundamentals of secure surfing.
The internet is a scary place, populated by criminals of all types. We all pride ourselves on not being taken in by a scam, but cyber crime is growing all the time. What's worse, your computer is pretty dumb and - if you aren't careful - it will be talking to criminals even when you're not. In many ways, the internet is still like the Wild West - a vast, lawless wilderness populated by a range of bandidos and chancers. But you can act to stop yourself being overwhelmed by cyber criminals by following a few easy steps.
1. Set up a firewall
The very first step in making sure your computer is safe is to set up a firewall to shield you whenever you connect to the internet. This is especially important if you have an always-on broadband connection, but should be done whatever the case. Recent research has said that a totally unprotected computer hooked up to the web will be knocked over by viruses and hacks inside 12 minutes.
If you don't put a firewall in place, it's the equivalent of parking your car and leaving the windows open: you're asking for trouble.
Most operating systems have the ability to set up their own basic firewalls - and this is as good a place as any to start. If you run on Windows XP, Microsoft's guide will take you through the process, while Mac OS X users might want to look at this page. Usually it is simply a case of altering some system preferences to get your firewall to kick into action.
If you use a separate modem to connect to the internet, or have a router acting as a gateway for your network, it is also likely these will have a built-in firewall. Read the manufacturer's instructions very closely to discover how this works with your system, and if it offers you an increased level of protection.
The ultra cautious may also want to install a separate, non-OS based firewall such as Norton Personal Firewall or ZoneAlarm. Products like this will add an extra layer of protection for those wanting to monitor everything that comes in to, or out of, their system - and many also include virus-checking software.
2. Get some virus protection
Once you've got your firewall sorted, you've eliminated the biggest external threat to your security. Now the biggest danger is actually from inside your own network - in other words, on your computer itself. A virus is a piece of malicious code which attaches itself to other programs, though the term is often used to describe a whole range of invasive software - also known as malware. Other examples include the worm (a virus which does not need a host) and a Trojan, which is a program that disguises itself as something more innocuous.
Malware usually works by getting you to actively - but unwittingly - download it onto your computer. Sometimes the process is automated by other tasks you may undertake, things you would usually do without coming to harm. The best way to avoid viruses is to watch what you download extremely carefully: if you are not entirely sure that a file is legitimate, then don't download it. Email can prove particularly dangerous if you don't look closely, so never, ever open an attachment from a spam email.
The best way to protect yourself from this threat is to have some good anti-virus software. There are a number of options, but some of the most popular include the free version of Grisoft's AVG, McAfee, or Panda's shareware download.
These should be able to scan your system for viral intruders, putting your mind at rest.
3. Keep on the lookout for spyware
Firewalls and anti-viruses will work to protect you in the main, but sometimes software sneaks past them and gets onto your desktop. Usually this is by accident - clicking one of those annoying pop-up adverts by mistake, for example. But however it happens, these invasive begin downloading spyware onto your computer...
These include software which tries to discern your credit card details from purchases you make online, programs which track what you've been typing in order to work out your passwords, and even rogue diallers - automated snafflers which make you secretly call up premium rate phone lines.
Keeping an eye on spyware involves running checks periodically on your system using a recognised piece of kit. Usually these will scan your entire computer system and warn you of any untoward software on board, giving you the option to remove it: try Lavasoft's Ad-Aware or the Spybot Search and Destroy download. You could also look at the Spyware Warrior website for more options.
4. Watch out for scammers
Many people think that if they have received a spam email it means they have been targeted. That's not true: there are several ways a spammer can find your email address. If your address is published on the internet, it can be easy to pick up for those who are looking for contacts. Also some undiscriminating database companies sell on their data to less than reputable sources - so never give your email address out unless you are absolutely sure it won't be abused.
If those tricks fail, there is always the hit and miss method of trying random addresses - there are now automated programs which try different combinations of words and letters to try and find live, active email addresses.
The key thing to remember is that criminals have no problem with dishing out millions of emails because spam costs almost nothing to send. They live in hope that some unlucky punter will fall for the scam, and judging by the amount of money they make, it seems that their hopes are often realised.
The best way to avoid being caught by a spam email or phishing attack is simply to filter out the email before you read it. For this, you might want to try one of the popular spam blocking programs like Mailwasher (here's a shareware download from PC World), or step up the built-in filtering on your email.
If you do get unsolicited mail, make sure you don't fall for it. Spam and phishing attacks are getting increasingly sophisticated and there are two golden rules: if it looks too good to be true, it is; and - most importantly - never give them personal information.
Typical scams include the so-called Nigerian "419" mail, in which a stranger says they need to move huge amounts of money from another country and wants to use your bank account to do so, with a promised six-figure payoff for the privilege. In fact, they will just empty your bank account as soon as you hand over any details.
Other phishing scams include criminals posing as either eBay or your bank, and telling you that you must log on to a special website to confirm your details. They are, of course, running fake websites - although they may appear to be genuine - and will take your bank details and use them to rip you off.
The rule of thumb is simple: If there is anything fishy at all about an email, then don't act on it. You may also find it helpful to put the email into a search engine or to cross reference what you've been sent with a site like Snopes, which has entire sections dedicated to outing scams.
5. Sit back
You should now be fairly well protected from cyber criminals; although it is essential that you run checks on your computer regularly and update your software often.
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