Home Security
The FBI’s annual IC3 (Internet Crime Complaint Center) report stated that, in 2006, reported internet fraud cost more than $198 million in the United States alone. That fraud can come from a variety of sources. Spyware, adware, malware, phishing, SPAM, and other malicious activity can potentially cost you money.
According to the IC3 website (www.ic3.gov), the following are important steps toward protecting yourself from internet extortion:
- Security needs to be multi-layered so that numerous obstacles will be in the way of the intruder.
- That means you need an anti-virus and an anti-spyware program. You also need some form of anti-phishing protection. Many of the pay security suites add phishing protection to your existing web browser. Or you can upgrade your browser to have built-in phishing protection.
- Ensure security is installed at every possible entry point.
- Firewalls at all connections to the internet.
- Ensure you are utilizing the most up-to-date patches for your software.
- Use Windows Update (windowsupdate.microsoft.com) to install the latest security updates from Microsoft. Or activate Automatic Updates on each PC.
Software
Below is a list of several software programs that, when used properly, can protect you from cyber crime. If you are unfamiliar with certain terms, please visit our reference page for more information.
Free Anti-Spyware
- Ad-Aware 2008 (www.lavasoftusa.com)
- Spybot Search & Destroy (www.spybot.info/en/)
- Windows Defender (www.microsoft.com/defender/)
- AVG Anti-Spyware Free (free.grisoft.com)
FREE Anti-Virus
- AVG Anti-Virus Free (free.grisoft.com)
- Avast! 4 Home Edition (www.avast.com)
FREE Firewall
- Windows Firewall (Built into Windows XP and above)
- ZoneAlarm (www.zonealarm.com/store/content/catalog/products/sku_list_za.jsp?dc=12bms&ctry=US&lang=en )
Web Browsers
- FireFox (www.mozilla.com/en-US/)
- Internet Explorer 7 (www.microsoft.com/ie/)
- Opera (www.opera.com)
Pay Security Suites
- AVG Internet Security (www.grisoft.com)
- ZoneAlarm Internet Security Suite (www.zonealarm.com/)
- Norton 360 (www.symantec.com/home_homeoffice/themes/freedom/index.jsp)
