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How to Protect Yourself on the Internet

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The internet allows us to open the door to new and exciting worlds. We can reach out and touch almost anywhere in the universe with a few clicks of the keyboard. For all of the benefits it offers, there are dangers too. Entering unsafe websites can cause viruses or malware to affect your files and damage your entire computer system. Opening attachments that accompany emails can also allow dangerous files to enter your computer.

Virus Protection
How can you prevent unwanted intruders from entering your computer? People store all kinds of important and confidential information on their computers. A virus can destroy every file on your computer in less than 5 minutes if allowed to run unchecked through your system. Installing virus protection programs will help prevent this kind of damage and keep your system safe from crashes and corrupted files. 

Installing virus protection is only a small part of protecting your files and computer system. Another key way to protect your files is to limit the amount of personal information you share with others online. Never reveal passwords or information concerning online email or cloud accounts. Keeping passwords confidential protects hackers from getting into your email and including attachments that could infect your email recipient’s systems. 

Never reply or open emails you believe to be spam. Once you acknowledge your email account as valid by opening an email, it allows for more emails to be sent from various other spam accounts. While spam may be just a nuisance, some spam emails may contain harmless files that can corrupt files and harm your system. High speed internet companies report an increasing number of spam emails sent over personal and professional emails. With a high speed internet connection, a hacker can break into an email account and compromise your files in a short amount of time.

Security
Be aware of a website’s security. Financial websites take great pains to make sure their site is secure. Many websites have copies of their security certificate posted on their website so customers can view it for themselves. A few of the major search engines have indicators showing the level of security of each website. Most anti-virus programs will flash a warning if a dangerous or questionable site is about to be accessed. Search engines can spot dangerous sites no matter how fast the high speed internet connection.
Depending on where you access your computer files will determine the level of security you can be assured of. At home your security level is high. You are using your own system and you know what your anti-virus program is capable of. If you access your personal files at work, it is wise to remember that some companies monitor the sites their employees frequent while on the job. Accessing files from a public internet provider, like that used at a coffee shop or public library, can leave your computer open to hackers and other internet predators. High speed internet connections that are rated as public are commonly known to have limited security at best.

Protecting your computer and the confidential files it contains is easy if you take necessary precautions. With an effective anti-virus program and a common sense approach as to who you provide your personal information, you can keep your files safe and your computer running smoothly.  


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