Anti-virus Software
Anti-virus software protects your
computer from viruses that can
destroy your data, slow your
computer's performance, cause a
crash, or even allow spammers to
send email through your account. It
works by scanning your computer and
your incoming email for viruses, and
then deleting them.
To be effective, your anti-virus software should update routinely with antidotes to the latest "bugs" circulating through the Internet. Most commercial anti-virus software includes a feature to download updates automatically when you are on the Internet.
Anti-Virus Software- What to
Look For and Where to Get It
You can download anti-virus
software from the websites of
software companies or buy it in
retail stores. Look for anti-virus
software that:
- recognizes current viruses, as well as older ones
- effectively reverses the damage
- updates automatically.
Here's a sample list of anti-virus software that you can purchase online.
http://security.getnetwise.org/tools/results/any2.php
This list was gathered and provided by the GetNetWise website. We cannot guarantee the effectiveness of any of the products listed on the GetNetWise website, nor do we endorse any products. The National Cyber Security Alliance is also unable to provide any technical assistance with any of these tools.
Firewalls
Don't be put off by the word
"firewall." It's not necessary to
fully understand how it works; it's
enough to know what it does and why
you need it. Firewalls help keep
hackers from using your computer to
send out your personal information
without your permission. While
anti-virus software scans incoming
email and files, a firewall is like
a guard, watching for outside
attempts to access your system and
blocking communications from and to
sources you don't permit.
Some operating systems and hardware devices come with a built-in firewall that may be shipped in the "off" mode. Make sure you turn it on. For your firewall to be effective, it needs to be set up properly and updated regularly. Check your online "Help" feature for specific instructions.
Information on how to turn on
your operating system's firewall.
Windows XP and Macintosh OS X
operating systems have a built in
firewall.
Here's a video that teaches you how to turn on the firewall for each of these operating systems. This option is available only if you have these operating system versions.
Window's XP
http://security.getnetwise.org/tools/firewallxp-instruct
This video tutorial shows you how to
enable the firewall option built
into the Microsoft XP operating
system.
Macintosh OS X
http://security.getnetwise.org/tools/firewall-osx-instruct
This video tutorial shows you how to
start the built-in firewall of the
Macintosh OS X operating system.
This option is available only to
users of the Macintosh OS X
operating system version 10.2 or
later.
If your operating system doesn't include a firewall, get a separate software firewall that runs in the background while you work, or install a hardware firewall — an external device that includes firewall software. Several free firewall software programs are available on the Internet. You can find one by typing "free firewall" into your favorite search engine.
Here's a sample list of firewall
software that you can purchase
online.
http://security.getnetwise.org/tools/results/any1.php
This list was gathered and provided by the GetNetWise website. We cannot guarantee the effectiveness of any of the products listed on the GetNetWise website, nor do we endorse any products. The National Cyber Security Alliance is also unable to provide any technical assistance with any of these tools.
Anti-Spyware Software
Anti-spyware software helps protect
your computer from malicious spyware
that monitors your online activities
and collects personal information
while you surf the web. It works by
periodically scanning your computer
for spyware programs, and then
giving you the opportunity to remove
any harmful surveillance software
found on your computer. Some
anti-virus software contains anti-spyware
capability. Given the increasing
sophistication of spyware programs,
consider using two different anti-spyware
program search one looks for
slightly different sets of threats,
and together they may offer
increased protection.
Zombie Drones
Some spammers search the Internet
for unprotected computers they can
control and use anonymously to send
unwanted spam emails. If you don't
have up-to-date anti-virus
protection and a firewall, spammers
may try to install software that
lets them route email through your
computer, often to thousands of
recipients, so that it appears to
have come from your account. If this
happens, you may receive an
overwhelming number of complaints
from recipients, and your email
account could be shut down by your
Internet Service Provider (ISP).