The Federal Bureau of Investigation of the United States
presents many suggestions for protecting your computer network and how to
safely conduct business online. Employ all these tips for a tough defense
against internet fraud.
FBI’s Suggestions
for Online Safety and Internet Fraud Prevention
1. Download with
Caution
Never download a
file from an insecure website or open an email or a link in an email from
someone you do not know. Even if you do know them, if you doubt the
authenticity of the email, contact them offline first to limit your risk of internet fraud. Malware infects your computer when you recklessly download
files from the internet, even with the best anti-spyware and anti-virus
software on the market.
2. Use Your Firewall
Be sure to activate
the firewall preinstalled on your computer before you browse the internet for
at least some protection against internet fraud. If your computer does not have
one, contact a local computer store or search for a legitimate business selling
one for download. Firewalls block unapproved infiltration of your computer
network by an outsider. Use a soft firewall for one computer or a hardware
router with a firewall for a network with several computers.
3. Daily Computer Shut
Down
Shut down your
computer when not in use or when you go to sleep. Leaving the computer on and
connected to the internet may make checking your email take fewer seconds in
the morning. The problem lies in the fact it also gives hackers access to your
computer network for as long as you are connected to the internet. Turn off
your computer and ensure better protection from internet fraud.
4. Install
Anti-Spyware/Anti-Virus Programs and Update Them
Spyware and viruses
infect your computer when you open a spam email or an untrustworthy website. It
then downloads in the background so you do not know what happened or attaches
itself to an authorized download. Spyware can monitor all your computer
activities so a hacker knows your online shopping preferences, network
configurations, private usernames and passwords, bank account/credit card
information, browsing history, and other personal data. Trust an anti-spyware
program like Ad-Aware, Malwarebytes, or AVG to locate and destroy spyware.
Viruses corrupt your computer’s network and can destroy or steal files.
Sometimes the virus blocks certain files or drastically slows down your
internet connectivity. It then offers an expensive anti-virus program to
download, but never removes the malware or virus. Do not trust a pop-up offer
for virus protection. Instead, download and install Avast, McAfee, Kaspersky,
or a comparable software to prevent and eliminate computer viruses and malware.
Once you install these programs, be sure to sign up for automatic updates or
update the software regularly to protect against the newest internet fraud
schemes using malware, spyware, or viruses.
5. Regularly Update
Your Computer’s Operating System
Your computer’s
operating system runs your whole computer. The software governs how and when
applications run, manages storage, memory, and system peripherals, schedules
tasks, output/input, resources for communication, and schedules tasks. When
coding such a large software program, designers make minor mistakes or overlook
security loopholes. They release system updates to patch these issues and fix
any holes in your computer network’s safety. The company who made your
operating system will offer regular updates, so be sure to install them as soon
as they are available to better protect your computer from internet fraud and
other cyber attacks.
