10Prevention tips

Cybercrime prevention can be straight-forward - when armed with a little technical advice and common sense, many attacks can be avoided. In general, online criminals are trying to make their money as quickly and easily as possible. The more difficult you make their job, the more likely they are to leave you alone and move on to an easier target. Probably, the best line of defense is still the end-user. The less risks she takes, the lower her chance of being the victim of a computer attack. The tips below provide basic information on how online fraud can be prevented.

- Keep the computer system up with the latest patches and updates. Vendors usually release patches for their software when vulnerability has been discovered. One of the best ways to keep attackers away from a computer is to apply patches and other software fixes when they become available. Most product documentation offers a method to get updates and patches. Some applications will automatically check for available updates, otherwise it is absolutely necessary to check periodically for updates. In any case, by regularly updating your computer, you block attackers from being able to take advantage of software flaws (vulnerabilities) that they could otherwise use to break into your system. While keeping your computer up-to-date will not protect the computer from all attacks, it makes it much more difficult for hackers to gain access to it, blocks many basic and automated attacks completely, and might be enough to discourage a less-determined attacker to look for a more vulnerable computer elsewhere.
- Make sure the computer is configured securely. Installing a system right out of the box and leaving it with the default configuration is probably one of the most common mistakes that people make when setting up a network. When a computer is installed, it is important to pay attention not just to making it run, but also focus on making it work securely. Default configurations often have default administrative accounts and passwords that hackers the world over know. Configuring Internet applications such as Web browser and email software is one of the most important areas to focus on.
- Choose strong passwords and keep them safe. Passwords are often the only protection used on a system. A user ID is only a name and does not verify identification, but the password associated with the user ID works as an identifier. Firewalls and intrusion detection systems mean nothing if your passwords are compromised. A strong password is one that cannot be found in any dictionary. It also means a password that is not easily guessed.
- Protect the computer with security software. Several types of security software, including firewall and antivirus are necessary for basic online security. A firewall is a software or hardware product that screens the information coming into and leaving your computer to ensure that there is no unauthorized access to your computer, providing in this way the first line of defense. The next line of defense many times is the antivirus software, a computer program that can be used to scan files to identify and eliminate computer viruses and other malicious software (malware). Strictly speaking, a virus is a program that can replicate itself and is designed to spread from one computer to another, doing things the end-user doesn't want and/or doesn't know about. Malware is a broader term, short for malicious software, and there are many different forms, including viruses, Trojan horses, keyloggers, worms, adware, and spyware, to name a few.
- Protect the personal information. Identity Theft has become a major problem with people using the Internet for cash transactions and banking services. In this cyber crime, a criminal accesses data about a person’s bank account, credit cards, Social Security, debit card and other sensitive information to siphon money or to buy things online in the victim’s name. It can result in major financial losses for the victim and even spoil the victim’s credit history. Therefore, caution is required when sharing personal information such as name, home address, phone number, and email address online. To take advantage of many online services, you will inevitably have to provide personal information in order to handle billing and shipping of purchased goods.