Hi Stacy,
Here are a few tips:
1. Download a firewall. You can get one free at
www.zonealarm.com. If all
else fails, enable the firewall that comes with Windows.
2. Do NOT post to any Internet newsgroup with your real email address,
unless you desire a flood of spam and Internet worms.
3. Get a good antivirus program. You can download one free at
www.grisoft.com.
4. Get a good anti-spyware program. You can download one free at
www.safer-networking.org.
5. Use common sense. Get a weird, unexpected email attachment from someone
you know? Send them a reply asking if they really sent it.
6. Set up a seperate, free email account to register for things.
7. When sites ask you for personal information that is not required, don't
provide it. If a site is asking for way too much personal information, take
your browsing time elsewhere.
8. Remember that most companies will NEVER send upgrade patches or anything
of the sort via email. The same goes for notifications of credit card
charges. If a site asks for your credit card number and you got there
through an email, be suspicious of it.
9. Avoid peer-to-peer programs if you can.
10. Above all, be suspicious, but not paranoid. The entire point of the
Internet is to become convenient, and if you spend all of your time
worrying, it's hard to be productive. If you follow these tips, though, you
won't need to worry, assuming you use good judgement.
By the way, for future reference, it is not standard to provide off-board
contact and most people here - including me - try to avoid doing it, mainly
because it complicates things.
Sincerely,
Benjamin Johnstone-Anderson
Microsoft MVP - Windows Security
Remove "SPAM" from email address to reply!
Security Manifest:
www.msmvps.com/trafton/