If there's one thing about myths or urban legends about Internet security, it's probably the fact that these stories actually put people on their toes and realize that the threat is real online. This is probably what you would call human adaptation wherein extra work for self-preservation is exerted in times of perceived danger. Fear of their computers being hacked, fear of losing their files due to viruses, fear of having their identities stolen - these are things that could work well for any Internet user. These are things that heighten the need for security measures to be implemented. The problem is when what is believed to be true is actually the contrary of what is, indeed true. Then there is a lack of significant effort to achieve Internet security or even an absence of it.
Right now, there's a good number of misconceptions about Internet security issues which, when left uncorrected, could actually lead to more danger to the user. One is the belief that viruses, worms, Trojans and other types of malware are but an accidental product of troubled teenagers who happen to be skilled in computers. In reality, malware can consist of programs created by professionals and can dig deep and hard into your system and wreak complete havoc. The myth might be partly true as any of these professional hackers could be any age, even teenagers, but to think that these are mere products of youth angst is an understatement. Malware is created for the specific purpose of destroying computers and these malware programmers making money out of it. In other words, it's a trade. Therefore, it's serious business.
Some people also think dubious websites can be spotted just by looking at them alone. This is most certainly untrue. In fact, some websites are deliberately created to mimic a legitimate one such as a bank's or a credit card company's. One can never tell safe from unsafe websites just by face value alone. One way to detect a malicious site, though, is letting your mouse hover above the address you're told to click. If what comes out is different from how the link as typed on your inbox is, then that's a sure sign that you shouldn't click it. In general, never click a link unless you're a hundred percent sure it's safe.
Patching your security software is also necessary whether or not it's showing some problems. Some people don't want to patch their anti-virus because they think it's fine as long as it's not showing signs of weakness. Again, you can never tell by face value if the software is not without holes so you definitely have to patch to be sure.
Yet another wide misconception is the Internet being such a dangerous place that it's not worth entering at all. By far, the risks are manageable as long as one is aware of and practices basic security precautions. The advantages brought about by this technology are far greater than its loopholes so there's no use burning the entire house down just to kill the one proverbial mouse.
The last common misconception people have about Internet security is anti-virus software being the only Internet safety measure they can use. There are many things other than viruses that can wreak havoc on your system. Keyloggers, trojans, adware, spyware and many more are just as capable of making your computer crash as viruses and mostly, they can come all together in a bunch. This is why you need to explore other options for security your system when you're online.
One such example of another safety precaution you can practice is installing an IP changer which is a software designed to mask your IP address while you surf. When you IP is masked, it escapes the prying eyes of hackers. They may attempt to attack your system, but because you'll be using a fake IP provided by the software, they can only try. They'll never succeed. In other words, anonymous surfing is something you can explore benefit greatly from in ensuring that you're safe every minute you're online.
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