HOW DO I KEEP MY COMPUTER SAFE ON THE INTERNET

"Internet Safety" sounds like an impossible task but its really possible,high level protection can be implementedHardly will a day pass and we don't hear something about a new threat being unleashed on the internet, we hear of hackers,we hear of new viruses being written.Some people believe that microsoft product are more vulnerable.Some believe otherwise,antivirus companies work day and night to be up to date.There are threats to your passwords, every program or pop-up you see on your screen is screened properly before you click.A popular saying that 'only a stand alone system is safe' lies on everyone's lips.Here are some fews tips that you should consider and it will save you a lot of trouble. 'Prevention is better than cure'.Use a Firewall - A firewall is a piece of software or hardware that acts as a gateway between your computer and the internet and acts as protective sheild.It could also behave like a filter that sorts what goes in and out between your system and the internet. For example, a firewall may allow checking email and browsing the web, but disallow some other applications (If you're using a phone to dial-in to the internet, a firewall is not as important, though it doesn't hurt to have one. A software firewall may be your only option, though.)Virus Scan - Sometimes, typically via email, virii are able to cross the wall and end up on your computer anyway. A virus scanner will locate and remove them from your hard disk. A real time virus scanner will notice them as they arrive, even before they hit the disk, but at the cost of slowing down your machine a little. Important: because new virii are arriving every day, it's important to keep your virus definitions up-to-date. Be sure to enable the scanning software's automatic-update feature and have it do so every day. Spyware is similar to virii in that they arrive unexpected and unannounced and proceed to do something undesired. Normally spyware is relatively benign from a safety perspective, but it can violate your privacy by tracking the web sites you visit, or add "features" to your system that you never requested for. The worst offenders are spyware that take over normal functions of your system. For example, some like to redirect your web searches to other sites to try and infect you with something. Of course some spyware could act like a virus,it might as well be a virus, the negative effects it can have on your system can be so drastic. The good news is that, like virus scanners, there are spyware scanners that will locate and remove the offending software.Stay Up-To-Date - I can say it in my haste that 90% of virus infections don't have to happen. Software vulnerabilities that the viruses exploit usually already have patches available by the time the virus reaches a computer. The reason is simply because you refuse to install the latest updates that would have prevented the infection in the first place. I still see this on a regular bases that patches that were made like 2 years ago still affect a lot of systems,it simply shows that your protection is obsolete. The solution is simple: enable automatic updates, and visit Windows Update regularly.Don't be ignorant- Without mincing words , all the protection in the world won't save you from yourself. Don't open attachments that you aren't positive are ok. Don't fall for phishing scams. Don't click on links in email that you aren't positive are safe. Don't install "free" software without checking it out first - many "free" packages are free because they come loaded with spyware, adware and worse. When visiting a web site, did you get a pop-up asking if it's ok to install some software you're not sure of because you've never heard of it? Don't say "OK". Not sure about some security warning you've been given? Don't ignore it. Choose strong passwords, and don't share them with others. Assuming you browse you browse on your laptop or other mobile devices using internet hot spots, free Wifi or cafes, you must take extra precautions. Make sure that your email access is via secure connections, or that your regular mail is over an encrypted connection as well. Don't let people spy on and get to know your password by watching you when you type and have access to your security details. Monitor who has access to your system - In any security outfit,i discover the major thing they do is to man the entrance and the exit,what goes in and what goes out is the very vital to any security system. All of the precautions I've listed will be useless if other people can get to use your system and don't adhere to any of these precautions. Your password to your windows should be kept secret.They might not follow the safety rules neccessary outlined. A Family member getting to your system can gain access to very important details like your pins,credit card details.So who are you to blame?The truth remain that the major responsibility in keeping your system safe lies with you.You are the chief security officer of your system protection scheme.Beyond the antivirus, the anti- spam and the likes, you have a part to play.