| INTERNET SECURITY ADVICE |
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It's a bit of a nuisance, but there are evil people out there who have nothing better to do than create malicious programmes to run on our computers and annoy us. These can take many forms and can cause an infinite range of problems with our PCs. The main reason we get hit by these problems is that every PC sold comes with a Microsoft operating system (OS), which means if there's a security hole and an attacker finds it, they can attack every PC with the same OS. Hence the reason to use the Windows Update facility. Remember your Internet Explorer browser is part of the OS. Make sure it's always updated. As soon as a security hole is identified they release the 'patch' and windows update will download and install it for us. People with a slow Internet connection should turn Automation off as it will cause very slow speeds when surfing or checking mail. Remember to do the updates manually at least once a week (yep, there's that many holes). Remember this, if your computer does something without your instruction, or won't do what you want it to when you want, you probably have a problem. Always keep regular backups of your documents. I've included links to recommended software for removing some of the problems below. Browser Hijacking A very common problem is browser hijacking. This is when your browser settings are forcibly changed without your knowledge by dodgey web sites or dodgey software. Issues can range from changing your default start and search pages to placing Internet shortcuts in your favorites directory. The reason they do this is force you to visit a web site so that they can artificially generate traffic to gain higher advertising revenues. Sometimes you can change these back to your chosen settings, but more often other files will have been installed on your hard drive which will put all the bad ones back as soon as you reboot your PC. If you're at this stage you will need professional help to get rid of the software. Other Browsers are available on the web, we don't have to use Internet Explorer. I've included some links below to recommended replacements if you wish. Viruses Viruses usually arrive on your PC through email attachments. A virus is a piece of code or a program which gets installed on your computer without your knowledge. Antivirus programs check your computer for the best-known types of viruses and will identify them on arrival if you have all the latest updates. It will run, replicate and spread to other computers, usually it will identify your address book and send itself to everyone in it. Over 250 new viruses are created every month, No one who uses computers is immune from viruses. The effects of a virus can range from harmless messages that appear on screen to destruction of data, either right away or on a set date. You can help yourself keep protected if you turn all automation off in your Outlook/Outlook Express settings and NEVER open an attachment unless you are 100% sure it is safe to do so. Spyware Spyware, also know as Adware or Malware, is stealth software which tracks and reports via the Internet, your activity on your PC in order to provide companies with information regarding your surfing habits so they may tailor the advertising your see. Spyware can also be used by hackers and can monitor your keystrokes so that your passwords can be identified. Spyware will cause your Internet connection to slow down and will probably increase the amount of dreaded spam you receive. Firewalls A Firewall is a system of hardware and software devices designed to prevent people gaining access to your PC or Network via the Internet. With a firewall you can decide who and what can have access to your PC. Everyone should have a firewall is they have an Internet connection. Especially if you have a always on broadband connection. Cookies A Cookie is a small text file that a web site will place on your PC. In most case these are harmless. They are usually used to identify you when you return to the site, maybe to look at an order or a shopping basket or even just remembering your name so it says Welcome John on the homepage when you visit. Cookies usually have an end date and get automatically deleted from you PC when no longer required. Cookies cannot retrieve information from your hard drive or profile your system.
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