Internet Safety:
info@drakehs.com

The information in this article is an edited version of an article taken from MajorGeeks.com.

Having a computer online for 18 hours a day using only the included Windows firewall, AVG anti-virus and a hardware router, I am able to avoid malware without any problem and so can you. This is not magic or super geekiness, it is simply some common sense I will share with you when using email or the web.

Email:

Do not open email attachments. Unless you are expecting it, avoid opening email attachments. Viruses are usually spread in such a way that you should smell a rat, but some are pretty slick and can even use your real name, a familiar file name or look as though it came from a friend.

Never click links in an email. These are known as "phishing schemes". Typically they want to get your passwords to your bank, PayPal, EBay or credit card information. The easiest way around this is to open your browser and go to the website yourself, or keep bookmarks of sites you consider important, such as EBay and your bank.

Never use the unsubscribe link. It may sound good, but remember this email came from a spammer, in some cases who paid for a mailing list with your email on it. Clicking the unsubscribe link typically results in confirming that it is a good email address to be sold on such lists. This does not apply to trusted websites including places where you once signed up.

Web Surfing:

Do not type in a web address. A typo can take you to a domain which can possibly be a website bought to spring malware upon you. Use your bookmarks for favorite sites, or use a trusted search engine (Google, Yahoo!) to find what you are looking for safely.

Be wary of the word "Free". Free music, games and porn are likely to be more of a headache then a money saver. While there are instances where you can find things like legitimate free music, the general rule of thumb is you get what you pay for. Organizations like the RIAA even intentionally infect illegal downloads, so you may end up paying with lost data in the long run.

Stop clicking so quickly. A common trick played on internet users is to place words like "OK" or "Close" on a popup add. You should always click the X in the top right corner of a popup window to ensure you don't download anything you don't really want.

Maintain your PC:

Occasional malware scans, removing cookies, cleaning up unused startup items, and defragmenting your hard drive can keep your machine running in tip top shape as well as maintaining your privacy and spotting potential problems. Taking these steps once a month can help you to keep your computer running smoothly and spare you some major headaches.