Your Guide to the Top Computer Safety Mistakes
The downside of advancing technology is that it opens doorways for cyber criminals to infect your computer with malware. These days, you’ll need to do more than simply install
anti virus software if you want to keep protected.
The following guide will describe the main online mistakes that will leave you wide open to malware infiltration, so you can understand how to guard your computer more thoroughly.
Phishing Scams
Online scams, such as sad stories asking for donations or promises of get-rich-quick schemes are designed to hook people into giving money or personal information to cyber criminals. Common sense is the best way to avoid getting duped – if it sounds too good to be true or if there isn’t a legitimate website to give credibility to the program offered, don’t allow yourself to fall for it. Blogs are a good way to research whether such schemes are scams. There are also free anti-phishing toolbars which block such antics.
Unsolicited Email and IM Links
Malicious or fraudulent links in emails and IM are one of the most common ways that viruses gain access to your computer’s operating system. It’s highly advisable to read your emails in plain text, which makes bogus links more easily identifiable. The best measure however is never to click on any link in an email or IM that is received unexpectedly – even if you know the sender, the email could be infected without their knowledge.
Using a Link to Login to a Private Account
It is always a big no-no to login to an email, IM, or social networking message via a link, as this is a blatant dupe used by hackers who then steal these details. If you do follow a link that instructs you to login, be careful by closing the page, then opening a new page and visiting the site using a bookmarked or known link.
Infection Warning Popups
Popups that warn of virus infection are such a common scam that they have their own name – ‘scareware’. These rogue scanners masquerade as antivirus or antispyware products to frighten you by claiming your computer’s system is infected so that you end up paying for them. Some of the more malicious versions even infect your computer with malware and then hold you ransom by demanding payment to remove it.
Security Patch Gaps
The sad fact is that on any given day there are loads of security vulnerabilities waiting to be exploited on your computer, so if you don’t keep current with the latest patches for these on all programs in your system, it’s asking for trouble. A good idea is to use a software scanner which identifies security gaps and can tell you which programs need patching plus where to get these fixes.
Firewall Neglect
Firewalls are the first line of defence against malware entering your computer, they are just as important as anti virus software. Many operating systems come with an inbuilt firewall, and there are also many free ones available for download. Also make sure you choose a firewall that provides both inbound and outbound protection.
Anti Virus Software Vigilance
One of the main mistakes that the average user makes is assuming that once they’ve installed an anti virus product on their computer, it will provide full protection, job done. The first thing to know is that the software will only be as good as it’s kept current, so that it can identify the latest forms of malware. For this reason, it’s advisable to configure your antivirus software to check for updates automatically and at least once per day.
Conclusion
From the crucial importance of current anti virus software to never clicking on links that you don’t absolutely trust, the above information will go a long way to helping you keep your computer safe from malware infections.
About the Author: Peter McKiel is an IT Consultant and expert in Anti Virus Software.
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