Staying secure on the Internet

Unfortunately, some users of the Internet try and do malicious things to other users. This makes it necessary for every user of the Internet to put some effort into securing their computer from attack.

As a home computer user accessing the internet, whether through a broadband connection or from a traditional dial up connection, you should do the following three things to help you stay secure whilst on the internet:

1. Install and maintain antivirus and firewall software on your computer
2. Do not open suspicious or unknown email
3. Keep your computer up to date

You should also consider whether or not to purchase and install firewall software. Firewall software can provide you with additional protection from malicious users.

Stay Smart Online has practical tips and advice on e-security. The website contains basic information on how to secure your computer, best practice tips for smart transacting online, and information on keeping young people safe online. You can also find information on staying secure on the internet on LearnTheNet.

Install and maintain antivirus and firewall software on your computer

Antivirus software checks for known viruses periodically on your computer and in emails to your email address. It is important to update your software regularly as new computer viruses are discovered almost daily. At least once a week you should check the website of the vendor that makes your anti virus software to see if there is an update available. Firewall software protects your computer from other types of attacks from the Internet. As with antivirus software, you should ensure that you regularly update your firewall software.

Do not open suspicious or unknown email

Many viruses and worms use what is known as social engineering, that is, they attempt to trick you into becoming a part of the virus process. The latest viruses can "spoof" the sending email address so that it looks like it is coming from someone other than the computer that infected it. If an email is not from someone you know, it is usually best to simply delete it without looking at it. If the email appears to be from someone you know, you should read the message carefully before opening any attached files. Viruses and worms often have bad English and poor grammar. Consider whether the person you know would really have written that message or forwarded the attached file. If in doubt, contact that person to confirm they sent the email before opening the attachment.

Keep your computer up to date

New vulnerabilities are discovered almost as regularly as viruses, and they often occur in the operating system (Windows), your web browser (Internet Explorer, Netscape, Firefox, etc), email software or third party tools. If left unpatched, these vulnerabilities can be exploited by computer hackers to obtain access and control of your computer. Staying up to date can be difficult for inexperienced users. Some vendors, such as Microsoft, have automated systems that check for updates and notify you. If your vendor doesn’t have this it is best to check their website regularly to see if there are any new updates and patches for the system or software.