Surfing the Web is something most of us do every day. The Internet provides seemingly endless possibilities for shopping, banking, gaming, and more. Unfortunately, opportunities for illicit activity are also limitless. Without adequate protection, your computer is vulnerable to malware, software designed to infect private computers to commit crimes, such as identity theft and fraud.
Viruses, most commonly spread through email, are turning up increasingly in instant messages. Trojan horse programs are transferred to unsuspecting users' PCs through file-sharing. Sometimes people unknowingly download Trojans, thinking they're legitimate game, music, or greeting card files. Often, the culprit file runs in the background when you visit targeted sites. Declare war on cyber attacks with these tips.
- Safeguard your technology with anti-virus software and keep it up-to-date. A good program should have integrated technologies to protect against spyware, viruses, spam, and phishing. Firewall and back-up capabilities monitor a variety of file types.
- Use an Internet service provider (ISP) that incorporates effective anti-spam and anti-phishing features.
- Make sure your anti-virus software scans email and instant message attachments. Never open files you weren't expecting, even if they're sent by people you know.
- Keep your browser up-to-date for the best anti-Trojan protection. Configure your settings for automatic Windows updates or download them as soon as they're available to keep operating systems current.
- Make sure instant messaging doesn't open automatically every time you turn on your PC. Disconnect from the Internet when you're not using it.
- Use software to check out sites you're not sure about to make sure they're legit.
- Back up your files frequently and store them in a place other than your computer. When Trojans invade, your information will be easy to recover.
- Take the same precautions with file-sharing programs as with emails and messaging.
For additional help on computer protection and data recovery, contact the experts at CompuMarc Computer Services today.