| Arguably one of the greatest inventions the world | | | | PC recording all the details you type in and sending |
| has ever known. The internet has opened up the | | | | this data to some remote computer. It could be too |
| business world; it allows people to communicate | | | | the far side of the world, or it could be to a PC next |
| across vast distances, cheaper and easier than ever | | | | door, who knows where it ends up. |
| before. There is a world of information at your finger | | | | There is little 'widgets R us' can do as the next time |
| tips. More and more people are getting connected | | | | you appear to visit their website they see the same |
| and taking advantage of the great wealth afforded | | | | details typed in, the same passwords and they greet |
| by the net. There are however some fairly serious | | | | you back again. The difference is of course it's not |
| down sides, identity theft is one of the fastest | | | | you this time, it's some cyber thief, buying your |
| growing crimes. By taking advantage of unprotected | | | | favourite widgets and you're the one paying for it. |
| surfers, stealing their personal details, hackers can run | | | | The good news is it's not that complicated or |
| up huge bills in someone else's name and walk away | | | | expensive to protect yourself in the cyber world. |
| undetected. | | | | The first step to online security is to get a personal |
| They say 90% of all PCs are infected with some | | | | firewall. This monitors the data coming and going |
| form of spyware. Spyware is simply a little piece of | | | | over your internet connection, acting as a shield |
| software that installs itself onto your PC and literally | | | | alerting you to anything suspicious trying to broadcast |
| spies on anything you do online. One way, the | | | | from your PC. |
| creators of such software nasties, are using to | | | | The next essential thing on the list is a good spyware |
| deliver their cargo is exploiting the popularity of | | | | removal software; this will clean up your computer. |
| Internet video clips, piggy backing on the latest funny | | | | The good news is there are a few freebies that |
| videos. Spyware comes in many guises, Mal ware, Ad | | | | work really well. You'll be amazed after running a |
| ware, Key Loggers, diallers to name but a few. They | | | | clean up tool at just how much faster your PC will |
| all aim to do the same thing, that is rob you of your | | | | run. There are also a couple of software packages |
| personal data and generate revenue for there | | | | that act as a firewall specifically for spyware and ad |
| creators. | | | | ware, these will alert you should you be straying into |
| Key loggers for example, simply record every | | | | an area on the internet known for spyware. |
| keystroke you make whilst online; broadcasting this | | | | The final piece of your security armoury is a good |
| data to someone else's PC somewhere out there in | | | | anti virus software; this will protect you against |
| cyber space. Not a good thing when you are buying | | | | viruses, worms Trojan horses and other viral |
| your latest 'widget' from 'widgets R us' and are | | | | software. That attempt to spread your data around |
| typing in your credit card details, or when you are | | | | the globe. |
| moving money around through online banking. | | | | By investing in these three software defences you |
| Unfortunately however secure the website at | | | | can feel confident in being able to cruise the internet |
| 'widgets r us' is, the problem lies on the PC in front | | | | super highway in safety. |
| of you now. The key logging software is sat on your | | | | |