Keeping Your Internet Business Safe From Hackers

Written by Said Rouhani


If you owned a restaurant, you'd lockrepparttar doors after closing, right?

If you owned a nightclub you'd hire bouncers to keep rowdy people out, right?

You'd be surprised how many Internet business owners fail to keeprepparttar 132088 gates closed tight... many are just begging forrepparttar 132089 hackers and viruses to strike with an attitude of apathy about security.

We're talking security in this week's article. I'll share with you some ofrepparttar 132090 quick and easy strategies I use to keep hackers and other undesirables away from my precious computer, which after all is where my business is located.

Gotta keep it safe, sound and secure.

1. Get an anti-virus software. This is an absolute MUST. Withrepparttar 132091 virtually overnight global spread of computer viruses due torepparttar 132092 ever increasing use of email, viruses are onrepparttar 132093 rampant. Arm yourself with an antivirus package that you can update regularly for new virus definitions, to remain protected againstrepparttar 132094 latest threats. There's a free antivirus package called InoculateIt that many people recommend: http://antivirus.cai.com/

2. Be paranoid of email attachments. Even with a cutting edge antivirus package, a virus might get through. Do not open attachments with suspicious looking extensions (no matter who they're from). Absolutely stay away from .exe and ..vb files, as these can be very malicious. In fact, disable these files via your email software (check outrepparttar 132095 help file if need be).

3. Install a firewall on your computer. A firewall software is a program that basically blocks outside access to your computer. Without a firewall you leave your computer wide open to hacker attacks... who can then gain total control over your computer and all your files. Could get very nasty. Do not spend another moment onrepparttar 132096 Internet without a firewall. It's easy to install and takes no time to get running. Here's a good firewall software: http://www.zonelabs.com/

Security: Fraud

Written by Richard Lowe


Fraud is rampant onrepparttar internet. It is everywhere that you look. When you are lurking in newsgroups you will find hundreds of messages inviting you to spend money here, there and everywhere. You'll get email demanding your time, attention, and, of course, money for something. Surfingrepparttar 132086 web will turn up many sites with some incredible offers which, of course, just happen to require your credit card number - but don't worry, they "just need it to validate your age" (or whatever) - DON'T GIVE THEM YOUR CREDIT CARD NUMBER UNLESS YOU ABSOLUTELY KNOW IT'S SAFE.

The web is a media of communication. It allows everyone to communicate with anyone forrepparttar 132087 price of a computer, phone line and internet service - and even most of that can be gotten for free if you try. This is perhapsrepparttar 132088 most wonderful invention inrepparttar 132089 history of man to date for it's sheer power of getting us all just to talk to each other, but there are dangers.

In a way, it's just like any other part of life. However, whatrepparttar 132090 internet does is to allow you to communicate (and be communicated with) exceptionally fast. Where else could you surf a hundred sites, receive 200 emails and examine 250 newsgroup messages all in one evening?

Some ofrepparttar 132091 schemes that you will need to be onrepparttar 132092 lookout for include:

Pyramid schemes galore. These arerepparttar 132093 things that say "send a dollar to a bunch of people with your name and address". They are all illegal (in spite of what they claim) and unethical. You will get ripped off and if you partake you are breakingrepparttar 132094 law.

http://www.internet-tips.net/Moneymaking/chain.htm

Startup companies which offer stock or "points" - these are not frauds, per say, butrepparttar 132095 vast majority of these will never pay anything to anyone. For example, many pay-to-surf programs at their beginning will not pay anything. Instead, you will get points or stock, withrepparttar 132096 promise of money downrepparttar 132097 road if they (a) go public or (b) get lots of people signed up or whatever. Beware - you are taking a risk to never get anything.

Credit card fraud - be very careful with your credit card number onrepparttar 132098 web. DO NOT EVER send it in email or post it in a newsgroup. And DO NOT USE YOUR DEBIT CARD FOR ANYTHING ON THE WEB. That comes directly out of your checking account - you may get it back fromrepparttar 132099 bank if you can prove fraud, but at least with a normal credit card you are riskingrepparttar 132100 banks money and not your own.

Multi-Level Marking (MLM) - I'm sure there are good MLM companies out there, but they really only tend to benefit those who get in early. Those onrepparttar 132101 bottom wind up supporting those on top, thenrepparttar 132102 whole thing loses steam and falls apart. Of course, those who do get in early make a lot of money.

Cont'd on page 2 ==>
 
ImproveHomeLife.com © 2005
Terms of Use