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In today’s world of ever evolving technology more people are taking a more proactive interest in their privacy and security online. There exist some commonly held misconceptions, for example, that Online Banking is dangerous and insecure. However the truth is that this is simply not the case provided you adopt some basic measures to protect yourself online.
Simple protection need not be expensive or complex. There exist many free & well-respected products, as well as the ever growing range of commercial brands. Virus protection should be considered essential, and an emerging leader is AVG Anti-virus (www.avg.com), which is available for free and more than adequate for most users needs.
Often overlooked is Anti-spyware software, such as Ad-Aware (www.lavasoft.com). This type of software specializes in finding threats such as personal data gatherers. By combining these two types of software you will have an adequate amount of protection online. Versions of Windows currently available also include a Firewall, which, when properly configured helps prevent hackers from exploiting vulnerabilities in your computer.
Remember that installing the software alone won’t be sufficient. You must regularly run scans and install updates to keep your protection current.
Lastly if you have a wireless internet connection, it is essential you use the latest encryption scheme to prevent outsiders from viewing your online activities. You need to use WPA2 (or Wi-Fi Protected Access) which is still considered secure (ask your installer to do this for you). Remember to keep your computer up-to-date by performing regular Windows updates, and take regular backups of your files. Also consider switching to an alternative internet browser if you use Internet Explorer as it has a long history of security failures. We recommend using Firefox or Opera.