Internet Safety
How can I protect my computer against spyware?
To protect your computer against spyware, don't click on any straight pop ups. Don't go to any questionable websites and if you receive any thing that looks funny in an email, don't open it and trash it, especially it's not from somebody that you know.
Do Macs get viruses?
Well there are only three known viruses out there that are made specifically for the Mac. The chances are, you're not going to get infected if you're on a Mac. Ninety-nine percent of all of the viruses out there are written for a PC. So the chances are, if you're on a Mac you're not going to get infected with a virus, any of the trojans or any of the spyware out there.
How do I keep my kids safe on the Internet?
If you are worried about your kids going onto the internet, there are several suites of software out there that you can buy, that act as a parental guide or parental lock. These work just like the lock on your cable TV when you set the channels that you don't want your kids to see. These softwares work exactly the same way and they prevent your kids from going onto the net, and going onto the sites you don't want them to go to. However, get somebody that you know to install it for you, because I've known lots of people who get their kids to install it for them and this defeats the purpose, because if they installed it, they know how to unlock it.
How do I see what websites my children have been viewing on the Internet?
If you want to check what websites your children have be going to, the easiest way is to check the browser history. All browsers have a drop-down arrow at the top the address where you can see the different sites that have been visited. If your children are smart enough to wipe that history out, you're going to have to get a type of software that monitors the types of internet sites that your children have gone to. If you're going to get them, don't get them to install it for you because that defeats the whole purpose. If you're gong to install this software, get somebody who knows what they're doing to install it for you.
How do I protect my identity on the Internet?
If you're going to be on the internet for any length of time, there are a couple of guidelines you have to follow to protect your identity. If you're going on a website then make sure it's a trusted website. If it asks you for your information - if you have to put in your credit card or your social security number - make sure it's a website that you trust. If you're not sure, don't do it. The website should always have the name of the company that you are going to. If it has a series of numbers, it's probably a fake website and you have to avoid it. Other than that be careful. Use a username and a password that only you know and even if you have to create a new one, that's better than losing your identity to a thief who's out there fishing for some information.
What is the best anti-virus software for my system?
There's no best or worst anti-virus software. They all do exactly what they're going to do. If you Google "anti-virus software," you'll hear a few names pop up consistently. Norton is the biggest: Norton Anti-Virus. The next one's McAfee, and both of these are equally good. Then you've got the lesser-known anti-virus softwares like Bit Defender, which are also very good. Some of them are free, but if you want peace of mind, go with the big two of Norton or McAfee Anti-Virus.
What is a "cookie"?
A cookie is an internet piece of software that remembers your information. We're not talking about your personal information, just your browsing habits. A cookie will know your choices of whether you want this website in a large font or a small font, if you've been there before and if you've chosen an international edition or a local edition. Cookies just remember information of your browsing habits.
How do cookies affect my Internet security?
There are some cookies that are malicious cookies that hackers sometimes use to store your information - the keystrokes, sometimes your passwords and your user names - and they use these cookies to send information from your computer to theirs. If you value your security on the internet, you can set your web browser settings to a very high security so that websites don't retain these cookies. That's not always the best way to go about it, because legitimate websites do need cookies sometimes, so it's just up to you and how comfortable you feel on the Internet. If you don't feel that safe, set it to a very high setting so they don't leave cookies. If you're more comfortable, go with a lower setting.
