Basic Internet Security Tips

It's unbelievable how the Internet has become such an unsafe place. It started out wowing us for the tremendous world of conveniences and entertainment it could offer. But now, it seems that it has become very much exploited by people who can't find anything more decent to do with their lives. When you use the Internet these days, you're always faced with the possibility of being hacked or being infected by viruses, Trojans, worms, and all sorts of online contaminants. It's as if the dangers associated with this technology are endless and we are simply faced with the recourse of being eternally conscious of our online dealings if we don't want to have to deal with corrupted files, poor PC performance or, worst, identity theft. While we can never be a hundred percent free from the risks that abound on the Internet, there are ways we can do to reduce them significantly.

We don't even have to be experts on Internet security. Most of the time, we only need to practice some common sense, discipline and a little paranoia. For example, if you receive email from someone you don't know, suspect this sender right away of having malicious intentions. Most of these are actually hackers who would try to lead you into clicking on a certain link. If you do click on it, you'll end up in their site which is, of course, abundant in all the things created to wreak havoc in your computer. Or a hacker can also have you land in his site so he could set off a certain code to begin remotely accessing and controlling your computer. That means he can steal whatever personal information you have stored in there - maybe your bank ac count number, your credit card number, your passwords, usernames and even confidential information about the company you work for which the hacker can actually market to competitors. You can imagine what damage all that can cause, so it's always safe never ever to entertain emails from anyone other than those you're sure you'll want to take emails from.

Of course, it follows that if you don't entertain unknown people's emails, you don't answer their queries about your personal information. There are hackers who'll send you email pretending to be an employee of your bank and asking for your current usernames and passwords supposedly so your account could be activated. Just remember that established institutions never transact online, not even the phone, when it comes to very sensitive information. Therefore, when you encounter an email or even a phone call like this, ignore it because most certainly a scam.

And then, you'll always want to update yourself about the latest techniques that hackers use to prey on their victims. There's a lot of ways that they can try to dupe you into giving them the information they need so they can advance their selfish interests. Know what these are and do not stop digging the Internet for new information. These people are fast evolving and so are their tricks. Just by being aware could actually save you a great deal of trouble.

Of course, your basic firewall and anti-virus software will have to be enabled properly so content that attempts to enter your system could be duly screened for anything anomalous. Then you'll want to keep a backup of all your files just in case you do end up being infected with a virus.