The Internet is getting to be a very scary place these days. You spend a small fortune for a computer and Internet Service so that you can run your business, shop or retrieve valuable information. Yet getting on the internet today, puts you at great risk. Identity Theft scams that enter your email disguised as mail from ebay or paypal (phisher schemes) aren't your only enemy. (download a free scam blocker tool) Thieves have been trying to get you via your e-mail for many years and you probably know all about anti virus software and how to check for an authentic site.

If you don't have any anti-virus software, you need to get some. I recommend a free software download called AVG from Grisoft  download. I think it's better than Norton or Mcafee and it's totally free for home use. The updates are very timely and it catches all the nasty viruses quickly.

What you may not know is that many sites are depositing some very nasty spyware onto your computer from your browser and your HTML enabled email. This spyware is beginning to get worse than those viruses. Most viruses are trying to use your computer to generate denial of service (DOS) attacks on companies and web sites they may not like. Most viruses really leave your computer alone, except for storing code that will used in coordinated DOS attacks. Spyware, on the hand is out to hijack your passwords, your browser, computer and steal your identity.

There is hope however, and some of it is free. There's my free browser security tutorial which you should make a step one priority to read and implement. Setting up your browser as my tutorial suggestions will help a great deal and protect your browser from being hijacked by spyware that wants to steer you to there sites.Also there are software solutions to remove any spyware you already may be infected with prior to implementing my tutorial.

Unfortunately, if you use Internet Explorer, Outlook or Outlook Express, flaws in them will still allow these spyware agents to infest your computer. Microsoft intends to fix these flaws in XP service pack 2. However, even when it's available, you should wait to implement it until its' had some field test time of at least a month. Operating system code is so complex, that sometimes the fixes actually create more errors. So in the mean time until their XP service pack 2 fix is validated, you will need a good software solution to protect you. The totally free software solutions that I found unfortunately are not perfect and I find that you really need two software solutions to be safe.

One is freeware called spybot. download It also includes a how to use tutorial. You should read first before you run it. I suggest you don't use any advanced settings options as they can get you in trouble if you're a novice computer user. They do ask for a donation and I think you should give them one. After all, just like this information, it comes from an educated source that wants to help you out, so it seems only right that if they help you, you should help them. There are still some people who believe that what goes around, comes around, so don't disappoint them.

The other is an inexpensive software solution called ScanSpyscan. I found it to be the best solution providing about 90 percent protection against most of the spyware's and malicious software running on your computer. It will help prevent hackers from stealing your personal information, stop non browser desktop start-up popup's and advertisements and make your computer slower day by day.

By using ScanSpyware download you can cleanup your PC from the remaining parasites sitting in your computer that spybot misses. There's a free download that you can get that will scan your computer for any remaining attackers. It won't remove them unless you buy it. If it doesn't find any and you implemented my browser tutorial, you won't need to purchase it. I do, however, suggest you keep the trail version around and run it occasionally to check for new spyware that may slip by spybot.

The Bottom Line Is, You Should Probably
Use Both Of These Programs To Be As Safe As Possible

Once you've successfully removed all the spyware on your computer, you should download another free application that prevents malicious spyware code from entering your computer in the first place. Software called SpyBlaster from Javacool Software acts like a spyware shield that is totally transparent to you. download

Unfortunately, there's still another way your computer information can be hijacked. Anyone connecting to the internet is at risk and the most at risk are those with the high speed connections we all covet. Hijackers will call random computer addresses and connect to them via protocol ports that your computer needs to access networks. High speed connects are always on and typical have a static address. Once they have found an unprotected computer's static address, they can send software to run on your computer without your knowledge. This software can be used for example to record every key stroke you make and send it to them. This makes any encryption you may use or relying on secure sites useless.

In order to protect yourself from these attacks, you need to have a firewall on your computer. Many of you may have heard that a firewall is a must with always on high speed Internet connections. That's very true, however, I found that even dial-up modem connects that are being used for only an hour per day have also be attacked on a regular basis. I recommend that all computer connected to the internet use a firewall.

The firewall I recommend can make your computer invisible to these attackers. Being invisible means that they won't be able to find you and they can't attach to something they can't find. Invisible is a good when it comes to the internet. The latest Operating System from Microsoft has one built in, however, it isn't very good, it's hard to find and use and it isn't even turned on by default. I recommend what most security experts believe is the best firewall out there, Zone Alarm. There are two versions and the free one is fantastic for home use. The product you want is called Zone Alarm (FREE VERSION) from Zone Labs. Download Zone Alarm and be sure to read the built in tutorial. It's simple to use, but, use it wrong and it's useless.

In conclusion, I want you to be aware that malicious hackers will continue to find ways around any security you or your operating system may implement. However, know that anything you can do is far better than doing nothing. If your implement all my recommendations, you will have the best computer protect available today at any price. I will try to keep this information as current as possible as new threats arise.

Seattle Area Residents can find experts to fine tune and protect your computer systems with these and additional professional security measures that will provide unequaled protection.
Click Here to find out who to contact WILL OPEN IN A NEW WINDOW

Safe and Happy Surfing

Related Links:

Cert Internet Organization Home Computer Security Information

FTC Identity Theft Booklet

Test Your Computers' Safety Now and run it again when you implement the above suggestions

Privacy Enhancement Tools

How Identity Theft Works

Identity Theft Article

Another Identity Theft Article