Tech tips -
Someone asked me how to be safe on the internet. That's not an easy question to answer. Things change everyday and you have to adapt to those changes.
Here is a fact that most people won't accept. If I was you, and I was doing online shopping and banking, I would dedicate a computer to those tasks and those tasks only. I would never use the same computer do to my financial transactions and my regular day-to-day surfing, downloading and playing.
That's not a popular idea! But, this is my opinion. If you handle any finances online at all, it needs its own dedicated machine. Use a second computer for play!
I am not a security expert. However, in my day to day work and exposure to many different machines owned by many different people, I see more and more malicious software than I have ever seen in the past, and, that malicious software is much more intelligent than it ever was.
Here is a summary of my rules to attempt to stay safe.
First, always turn on windows automatic updates. This is how Microsoft plugs security holes in your computer. You must do this. Perverts are constantly scanning the internet looking for un-patched and vulnerable computers. It's how the perverts make money!
You must install virus scan software. It will help you find well known malicious software that has sneaked onto your computer.
You must turn on windows firewall. You don't want people to be able to get into your computer through an open port in your software. You can also install a secondary software firewall that will supplement the one that came with windows.
Install a physical firewall. I am an absolute believer in those physical router/firewall units you can purchase at any store that sells computer accessories. Get a wireless one if you don't want to run patch cables, and turn on all the security features like encryption and MAC filtering. And, for heaven's sake, change the default password to the router!
Use spy-ware detecting software and scan your computer regularly. I see it many times, malicious software that eludes or even disables virus scanning software.
Look, if you download from every corner of the internet, you will infect your computer! It is as simple as that! Let's be honest, we all use the internet for the same things. We especially love to download all sorts of free multi-media. You will download something that some pervert has modified so he can steal from you. It is a fact! Understand, it is how perverts make money!
Never, never, never open spam e-mail. Only a moron would attempt to buy male enhancement or anything else from an unsolicited e-mail. These days spam is used more to trick you into clicking on a link that takes you to an infected website than it is used as an attempt to get you to purchase something.
Do not open spam! You did not win the online lotto. There isn't a million dollars in a bank account with your name on it! Pick up the phone and call your local bank branch, they will know if there is a problem with your account! Again, delete spam; don't give the perverts a back door into your computer.
Above all, be vigilant! If your computer is behaving strangely, assume you are infected and take steps to cure it.
toddmusseau@gmail.com
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