When your computer is connected to the Internet your system is exposed to all sorts of nasties. They can be inconvenient, damaging and embarrassing. You have to take steps to make sure you aren't affected them.

While you're connected to the net there are all sorts of threats to your computer. These can range from email bourne viruses and spam through to hackers trying to access your system. Recently, Internet providers have started taking these threats more seriously by starting to warn about them. These warnings should be taken seriously, we look at the most common threats.

Viruses

Computer viruses are the most publicised threat. They certainly are the most common and cause the most immediate damage. While they can cause great damage to your system, and a lot of embarrassment, they are not the only risks from the net.

If you receive emails, or files from any other computer, you need a virus checker. That virus program needs to be kept up to date. Most of the viruses we are seeing now exploit various holes in the operating systems so software patches are essential.

Networking

When you are on the Internet you are connected to a huge network. The aim of a network is to share resources and computers do that very well. Your computer may be sharing too much with your fellow net users.

Making sure the network is setup correctly not only improves security but may also improve Internet performance. A firewall is also a very good idea to prevent sharing too much. A lot of security patches are designed to fix network security problems.

There a number of online scans available to check for these problems. One of the oldest is the Shields UP! utility. If you have a firewall expect it to complain loudly when you run this tool.

Rogue programs

A lot of programs share information about users, and sometimes files. Before installing anything that shares or communicates with others on the net, make sure you know what you are installing. Often the program has settings and options that should be changed, sometimes these programs are best avoided.

Spyware is one of the most common problems we are seeing on the net today. It sneaks in with other programs. Make sure you read any agreements that pop up and understand what you are installing before allowing programs onto your computer.

Firewalls

A firewall is a good thing to have. Most firewalls will stop other computers from accessing your computer and the good ones will stop programs accessing the net without your permission or knowledge. Zone Labs offer a basic, free firewall and there are many firewall products available at your local computer store.

Patching your system

The biggest vulnerabilities are in the operating system. Windows users can visit the Windows Update website. The newer operating systems can be set to automatically update themselves.

You must keep up to date with all the security patches available for your system. All software has flaws and the patching process is an important part of addressing those flaws. By making your system more secure, you are less likely to be caught out by viruses writers or hackers.

Computers need maintenance and patching the system is an important part of maintaining your system. Just as you should check a car’s oil and water, you should make sure the latest fixes and patches are on your system. By doing that, you can expect a much better computing experience.