Be safe from online threats! part 1

Many people think that security begins and ends with antivirus software. However, it is not enough. Yes you have to have an antivirus software, but there are cautions you have to take.

So let’s say that you’re running a well-supported, up-to-date security program—whether you use a PC or a Mac. What else do you need to do? Here I will share the steps I teach clients, friends and family members who want to avoid malware, phishing sites, and other online scams.

First of all, you should expect to be attacked if you download porn or pirated software. But just staying out of bad online neighborhoods isn’t sufficient anymore.
These days, threats can come from unexpected places: Google (and Bing) search results, compromised websites, deceptive ads, seemingly innocent downloads. You don’t have to be doing anything out of the ordinary to inadvertently stumble across one of these potential threats.
Their goal is to appear when you don’t expect them and convince you to act hastily. Online criminals often play on fear (your PC or Mac is infected with malware!) or simple social engineering (try these smiley’s! oh, and you need this codec—fake, of course—to play an enticing video clip).

When in doubt, stop. Think. Ask for help. If you’re truly worried, pull the plug on your Internet connection temporarily until you can call a knowledgeable friend or drag the machine in to a specialist for a thorough diagnosis.

You should, of course, have a regular backup routine. Mechanical failures (a crashed hard drive or a dropped notebook) can be even more devastating than a malware attack. With Windows 7, you can use the built-in backup program to save an image backup on an external hard drive; you can do the same thing on a Mac using Time Machine. Restoring a full backup is easy, especially if the alternative is spending hours trying to track down a well-hidden infection.