This page has some suggestions for keeping you safe while surfing the net:
There are so many threats out there in cyberspace it is hard to know where to start. BUT, there are a few points we would like to make about places that will get you in trouble immediately if you visit their sites or download certain software. These sites are known to put Spyware on your computer causing system instability and slow down computer response besides compromising your online security and safety.
Don't be tempted by "free stuff" like points to surf the net - any of these sites will slow your computer down so fast and put difficult to remove "Search Assistant" bars on your browser. These "browser add-ons" will take over your Internet Explorer for example and redirect you to sites that you do not chose. You can input a web address but you will be immediately redirected to some other site associated with the web page hijacker that you are now infected with.
Stay away from " free Screensavers" especially freescreensavers dot com. We don't want to link to it so you won't go there so we are spelling it this way for your own protection.
Stay away from free cursors that are animated like Comet cursors do com. We do want to link to that either. If you have teen-age girls your computer is more likely to get infected because this group of young people seems attracted to these cute looking "free programs".
If you come upon a page and a popup appears telling you that your computer is slow and has registry errors, or is infected with Spyware and to click on a link for a "free program" that will correct the problem - do not go there either. There is no way any webpage can tell what is on your computer or that it is infected or slow and they are just waiting for a vulnerable person with no knowledge that they can prey on. Many people of course fall into these categories and will fall for these lures only to find out quite quickly that the programs they have downloaded do not do what they said they would and that their computers are far worse off now.
NOTE: It does not matter how good your Antispyware, Antivirus or Firewall program is, when the user clicks on certain links he/she is over riding that software and allowing programs into the computer. This is due to allowing certain active-x scripts to enter their computers from offending web pages. If you do happen to make this mistake, a good program will alert you to the fact that your safety has been compromised and give suggestions as to what to do about it. The program is waiting for your correct input but most often these warnings are not dealt with correctly and so the offending program gains a good foothold in your system. Unfortunately, there is not one program out there that you can set on to automatically protect you from all threats. All of them require some user input to set them up correctly and to make decisions about warning or courses of action to take when something does happen.
Do not enable "active desktop" or let Web Content come into your computer. In Windows XP you prevent this by doing the following:
Right click on your desktop and go to Properties
(This will bring up your Display Properties)
Go to the General tab and click on the Web tab - remove anything listed there and take out the check mark so that it looks like the following:
While surfing the net:
If you feel you have lost control of your computer, before pulling the plug try this quick escape trick from Freddie: hit the "ALT" button and the " F4 " simultaneously to close the offending webpage. If this doesn't work, then shut down your computer or double click your Zone Alarm Firewall if you use it, and click on the Red Stop Sign. You may have to power down using your "on/off " switch.
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