Online security
Filed under: Internet, April 2009
Using the internet can be fraught with potential dangers such as credit card fraud, identify theft, viruses and scamming. But at the same time it's the most convenient way to do banking and shopping. Many people worry about their online privacy and a look at the top searches in security shows how they go about protecting themselves.
Top web security searches:
While you may have all this software and hardware to protect your PC, it's usually human error that leads to security breaches. Make sure you choose passwords carefully - ones that are (hopefully) impossible to guess and easy for you to remember. If you must write them down then do as the wise old Gandalf advised and 'keep it secret; keep it safe!' Phishing is a kind of online fraud that tricks people into giving away personal details. Don't be fooled by anyone! You probably wouldn't trust a man knocking at your front door claiming he was from your bank and could he please have your credit card PIN, would you? So don't trust any emails unless you're sure where they're from.
Have you ever been a victim of online crime? Do you feel safe using internet banking or shopping? Leave a comment and share your experiences.
Top web security searches:
- Phishing protection
- Firewall solution
- Antivirus packages
- Email security
- PC parental controls
- Anti spam software
- Automatic security updates
- Online payment security
- Wireless security encryption
- Spware blockers
While you may have all this software and hardware to protect your PC, it's usually human error that leads to security breaches. Make sure you choose passwords carefully - ones that are (hopefully) impossible to guess and easy for you to remember. If you must write them down then do as the wise old Gandalf advised and 'keep it secret; keep it safe!' Phishing is a kind of online fraud that tricks people into giving away personal details. Don't be fooled by anyone! You probably wouldn't trust a man knocking at your front door claiming he was from your bank and could he please have your credit card PIN, would you? So don't trust any emails unless you're sure where they're from.
Have you ever been a victim of online crime? Do you feel safe using internet banking or shopping? Leave a comment and share your experiences.
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Rich Wales said 6:14AM on 4-27-2009
I just love the AOL Security Suite. It's so much cheaper than other anti-virus software and it's got spyware and spam protection too - it just does the job, leaving me free to get on with my surfing and YouTube-ing! I remember comparing prices and found this was the most competitive high quality virus software and it works with McAfee technology too
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Freddie Mehta said 6:14AM on 4-27-2009
Nice blog. AOL helps my security
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David Hatch said 6:16AM on 4-27-2009
I appreciate the good intentions of this article, but would suggest that people first do research into the software they're purchasing before accepting recommendations from biased parties. Online security, and also network security, computer security, etc, is mainly about common-sense, something which sadly many people on the internet these days lack. I understand that as this site is a sub-domain of AOL, and as the author, Maya Driver, is quite likely to be an employee of AOL, it is to be expected that this article recommend software that is effectively controlled/owned by AOL. However, the truth is that AOL's security suite, and indeed McAfee's security suite, is bloated, expensive, and ineffective. There are many cheaper and better alternatives out there on the internet which have been proven by independent, non-biased reviewers and researchers to be more effective.
If I were to give my honest opinion as an independent adjudicator on software, I would recommend people supported the freeware and open-source market by using software which is often more effective at protecting your computer from the "big bad viruses, rootkits, spyware, malware, phishers, spam, trojans, etc" (something which again, sadly, too many people are ignorant about, merely accepting the fear tactics of the media), and costs, quite literally, nothing. Here is a fairly good, albeit slightly outdated, article on free security software to get you started: http://www.pcworld.com/article/150204/build_your_own_free_security_suite.html
Now, I understand that the prospect of having to download separate security programs and hoping they'll be compatible with each other is daunting for some who would prefer the ease of one single package that will install and manage everything, so if you felt you had to go in this direction, I'd suggest using BitDefender Internet Security 2009. Many reviewers have found it is easier to use, much better at detecting threats, updates its signature files more frequently, and of course the most important thing (though in reality, true security should be priceless), it is a fair bit cheaper.
Above all, I'd ask everyone to be more open-minded to the freeware and open-source markets, be less afraid of what the media tells you about how dangerous the internet is, be more open to shopping around first without blindly accepting recommendations from biased parties, and to have more common-sense with their online activities.
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Johnny said 4:33AM on 7-16-2009
Agreed! AOL Security Suite is really safe and sound i really appreciates the positive intention of your article...........
http://www.electrocomputerwarehouse.com
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