Increase Your Internet Security By Doing These 6 Things

Featured article by Jeremy Sutter, Independent Technology Author

Many individuals believe that putting anti-virus, firewall and anti-spyware software on their computers will protect them from any threats. However, having internet security means you must be a bit savvier. Regardless of these efforts, there are security holes on your system. It’s imperative that you close these gaps to ensure that your system is protected.

1. Never Click on Website or Email Links

Never click on a link that offers to take you to another site unless you are 100 percent sure it’s safe. Most pop-up links are leading you to an unsafe website where you will be infected with a virus. No matter how good the offer looks, if you don’t know the site, then you need to stay away.

The most significant invader of this is the advertisements that say your system is infected and to call Microsoft. When you call the 800 number, the representative will ask you to pay hundreds of dollars and permit them to access your system to fix it. It’s a hoax to get your personal information. Nothing good ever comes from clicking on a pop-up.

2. Check All Web Sites Before You Visit For Security

Unless the site you’re visiting is trusted, then you need to check the security before you enter. You can install a plug-in on your site that will verify the location is okay before you proceed. You can also set your computer to warn you if the site’s security is outdated or a possible threat is detected. This can be done in the internet explorer tools menu.

3. Upgrade Your Web Browser

First, go to your internet options and look at the privacy and security settings. Make sure it is a medium to high setting. Because of the advanced persistent threats on the internet, it’s best to use a browser other than internet explorer. Browsers like Firefox and Chrome have Active-X controls to protect you from internet threats.

4. Use a Password Manager

One of the most significant issues is that new passwords require letters, numbers, and a unique character. Many people use the same password for everything because they are so hard to remember. Unfortunately, should your computer be infected, using the same passwords can cause a significant security breach. Using a program that tracks your passwords make things easy. You enter all the passwords into the application the first time, and then you just enter one master password to get into anything pre-registered. Increase your internet security by making unique passwords that are hard to detect.

5. Get a Sandbox

A virtual sandbox is a somewhat new concept, but it has incredible value. You can run any program in a dedicated space on the computer’s hard drive. You can surf the internet, download files and do all your business without fearing any changes. Once you close out of your sandbox, anything that you did is erased. So if you download a potential threat, it’s washed away. It’s a pretty ingenious program.

6. Supplement Your Existing Anti-Virus

Your anti-virus is a reliable tool that helps protect your computer. However, did you know that it may not be enough? You need to supplement this program with another one that picks up what it cannot. An anti-virus program relies on signatures to identify malware. By adding a supplemental tool, it scans your whole computer and looks for anything that is suspicious or resembles malware. You won’t know this program is running unless it detects something. It’s like adding another layer of security to your system.

The internet is essential for work and home-related business. Nevertheless, you must protect your system. When you get a virus, it can be a costly problem to fix. Thankfully, you can make a few adjustments and increase your safety while surfing the web.