| Author: Stephen Craton |
Stopping spyware and adware is not a difficult task if people just simply take the time to be careful. To make it even easier, however, I have created a simple 3 step guideline to stop spyware and adware from infesting and slowing down your computer. Following these 3 simple steps will greatly improve your internet experience and all in all will make your computer very happy.
The 3 simple steps are
- Only trust certain websites
- Always assume no
- Get anti spyware software
Lets examine each step individually.
Only Trust Certain Websites
One common problem with people is that they are too trusting. In the real world where with your family and friends, this is always a good thing. However, in the internet, this is a very bad idea.
Lets make an analogy here. Lets say you go to New York Park and a man walks up to you asking if he can borrow $10. Ten dollars is not much, but he doesnt just want the green, he wants your credit card number. You obviously say no and walk away, right? You cant trust a man that you have never seen in your life with something as valuable as your credit card, can you?
The same can be said on the internet. There is probably one website to every human being on this planet, and we all know not everyone on this planet is trust worthy and safe. How can we then say that every website is safe? Its simply not true.
When a website asks if they can install something on your computer, its just like the man in the park asking for your credit card number. You may not be able to see the parallel right away, but think about it. You may have your bank statements downloaded on your computer, a picture of your children, several passwords, and maybe even personal emails. Spyware and adware not only slow down your computer, but it actually spies on you and steals your personal information.
How do you know what websites to trust and which to not? Its very simple. How do you know who to trust in the real world? Between a clean, well dressed man or woman on Wall Street and a man in shaggy clothes who looks to be in bad health in a ghetto, youd obviously choose the well dress one on Wall Street, right? Maybe you know of this website from some other people you trust, so you can inherit the trust from others. Maybe its a big name website or owned by a big name like Yahoo, Google, or Microsoft.
All of these websites you could trust because you know of them personally already. Thats not to say you cant trust more websites, though. Such websites need to gain your trust though, either by helping you personally, not asking for personal identifiable information, or not asking you to install anything on your computer.
Always Assume No
So lets say you are surfing the web and you are on a website youre not sure if you can trust yet or not. Out of no where it asks Such and such as requested to install an ActiveX controlblah blah blah Too often people think Oh, its just one thing, Ill click ok.
This is the biggest mistake on the internet ever. Just like the man in the park, why would you say Ok? Do you know this website, has it gained your trust? How can you just say yes out of nowhere? You have to let it gain your trust first.
Lets say you go to Yahoo! Games and it asks to install something. You should know of Yahoo, and you know that you are trying to play a game, so you can draw your conclusion that you can safely install something.
Get Anti Spyware Software
One sure fire way to make sure you stop spyware and not get any is to get anti spyware software. It is the best way that, even if you accidentally click yes, it will still block it so you know you are 100% safe. It will catch anything.
Following these steps should help you out on your journey on the internet and keep you safe. Following these basic guidelines will become second nature to you after a while and you will always be safe. Be sure to send these guidelines around to your friends as well, to help keep them safe and keeping you safe as well when they need to use your computer. Good luck on your journey!
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Author Bio:
Stephen Craton is an expert on this subject. Stephen has written several articles in the past on this topic. |
| You can search for this article using: network security, firewalls, computer network security, network security software, free firewalls |
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