Preserving Internet Freedom and Users' Security

Ideally, the Internet is synonymous with freedom. That is, the freedom to explore and the freedom to learn new things, the freedom to read or view anything that we are inclined to and even the freedom to earn income for free. Indeed, this technology is far from technical as it has become one of man's most convenient forms of expression. To curtail this freedom is to defeat the whole purpose of the Internet itself.

The web is one free zone of information which can be used for a myriad of purposes, from business to personal. This is also what makes the Internet a universal hit. There is something about its innate ability to promote a user's sense of being by affording him, among others, a way of realizing his dreams through its e-commerce functionality or simply providing a venue for verbal expression with blogs.

If one were to appreciate this technology, it would be easy to simply accept all that freedom and start taking advantage of it it from end to end. However, the greater point of appreciation must be the freedom to choose what to make out of this very freedom. There are and there will always be websites that promote thoughts, ideas and activities that run against a user's moral beliefs. If one does not seek these sites out on purpose, they will remain at bay. Therefore, it will always be the user's choice as to what the Internet will or will not bring him. But then again, while it is tempting to simply resign reality to his point of argument, fact remains that while you do not seek these unwanted online elements out, they have a way of seeking you.

This is why security of your computer is essential if you only want the best of the Internet and leave its ugly side unexplored. This is especially necessary when there are children who need to do some research for their schoolwork. When your computer does not have the necessary security tools, the kids may just end up exploring websites that could be unhealthy for them. Or worse, they could start downloading what they believe to be legitimate files they need for homework when, in fact, these files carry viruses or even keyloggers. This is when Internet security might be very crucial.

Viruses are common on the web, especially when you have a DSL connection, but it doens't mean that there's no way for you to fight them. As a basic security measure, you must have an anti-virus software installed and regularly updated. Your firewall should also be up and working.

Sometimes, it gets to be difficult to get into websites because your security software would tend to block those that may be suspected of being unsafe. However, this is for your own security. Sometimes, the element of freedom might be controlled to a certain degree but who needs absolute freedom when the price is your online security? Identity thieves are all over the Internet and so are malware from viruses to trojans. Absolute freedom is definitely not needed when you also have to be practical.

The Internet is, of course, a free zone. However, some users out there have been abusing this freedom and this abuse could make a victim out of you. So for your part, make sure you are willing to sacrifice a little of that freedom just to ensure that you and your computer are protected from online threats.

Another way to protect your computer online is by installing an IP hider software. With this, you can hide your IP address so no hacker would know how or where to find you. Then you can continue to enjoy the freedom of the Internet without having to worry about your computer being hacked.

By far, the best option would be to hide your IP address with an IP changer, so nobody ever knows how to get to your system, whether they're sending over some viruses, Trojans, worms or those nasty emails.