One of the most basic and important elements of Internet security is to have a firewall in place. A firewall is essentially a barrier that protects a computer from being accessed by other Internet users. In today’s world, one in six people has Internet access, and the technology that allows users in Beijing, New York, Paris, Sydney, and just about everywhere else is amazing. Unfortunately, there are also destructive forces online that seek to enter computers connected to a network in a search for information or to plant software that can do great harm to a computer. As Internet use becomes an even bigger part of life, the use of firewalls to protect systems from unwanted, outside access is more important now than ever before.

A firewall can be either an actual hardware device or software placed on a computer. Its job is to be a filter and only allow information through that meets the standards and requirements set by the user. Incoming data that does not meet the guidelines set forth is not allowed into the system. While this may restrict users from accessing some information, its primary function is to protect users from potentially harmful intrusion into their computer.

There are several types of Internet users that should use firewalls. Individuals with a computer connected to the Internet should have firewall protection, especially those with high speed DSL or cable lines allowing their computer to stay online at all times. Most Internet Service Providers have basic firewalls in place already to keep unfriendly visitors away. Firewalls are also used very often in business. Companies that want to control the types of information that can be accessed or transmitted from their company network can do so by adjusting firewall settings. While employees may complain about the restricted access to information, the company is acting responsibly by controlling the flow of information within their network of computers.

Firewalls work in a few different ways. The most common method is for information that is attempting to be accessed to be divided into “packets” and filtered, looking for keywords, IP addresses, or domain names that are not allowed in the system. Firewalls also look for packets of information that could contain viruses, spyware, or other potentially harmful programs, and blocks suspicious information from gaining access to the network. There are different levels of security that can be set on a firewall, from blocking literally everything to turning the firewall off and letting all information flow freely. Each user needs to determine for themselves an appropriate level of filtering and protection.

There are several types of attacks the firewalls protect against. Some of the more common problems that are avoided include remote login, denial of service attacks, viruses, and spam. The use of a firewall on its own should not be considered a reliable defense against these types of problems, but it’s a great first step. Using reliable anti-virus software and practicing safe computer habits in conjunction with a firewall will help to keep users out of trouble.

One of the most important parts of protecting your operating system and personal information is the proper use of internet security software. There are several options available and there are different types of protection that users should have in place for different types of computer usage. A user who spends time downloading music, movies, games, or software from Internet sites will probably need more sophisticated protection than a user who generally does nothing more than E-mail when online. Regardless, it’s good to know what options are available to protect your computer and your information.

One of the most important pieces of internet security software that all users should have is firewall protection. A firewall enables a user to make sure that only approved information can be sent between a home computer or a computer network and the Internet. The Firewall will not allow certain content from the Internet to reach the user’s computer. A personal firewall is used to protect stand-alone, individual computers that are connected to the Internet at all times, through DSL, cable, or some other high speed Internet service. A firewall’s job is to let the user know when information that is questionable is trying to reach the user’s computer.

Another important element of internet security is the use of reliable anti-virus software. One of the most discouraging things that can happen to a computer owner is to have their computer infected with a virus. A virus can be severe or mild, from a mild inconvenience to the complete destruction of your computer. Anti-virus software works in two separate ways. The first is through the use of signature files. When the software reports a virus, a signature file is created, the virus is inoculated, and the inoculation becomes available to identify and fight off that virus in other instances. The second way viruses are dealt with is called heuristics, a process where computers are scanned for programs behaving like viruses, the problem is isolated and the file is destroyed. This is probably the future of anti-virus software, but the process is imperfect at this point.

Most computer viruses are made to affect computers running the Windows operating system. Some users of other operating systems feel that anti-virus software is unnecessary, but the truth is that users of all types of computers and operating systems need to take measure the ensure internet security.

When purchasing anti-virus software, it’s important to use only software that can automatically receive updates. As more virus prevention becomes available, it’s important to make sure that your software stays up to date. Look for software that runs routine checks on your system to make sure no virus slips through the cracks. Finally, look for names that are widely known and respected, such as Norton/Symantec and McAfee, even if you have to pay a few extra dollars to use them. The cost of protecting your computer effectively is much less than the cost of trying to restore or replace lost information and equipment.

One of the crimes getting more attention than many others it today’s high-tech, electronic world is identity theft.  Identity theft is that act of taking someone’s personal information and using that information to commit fraud.  This personal information can be obtained in any number of ways, but regardless of the source of the information, identity theft can have negative financial consequences and be a major inconvenience.   About 10 million Americans become victims to identity theft every year, and the financial damages exceed $50 billion a year in fraud.  The average identity theft victim spends over 600 hours cleaning up the mess that identity theft and fraud can cause, so it’s wise to take precautions to protect your personal information.

Congress finally passed laws regarding identity theft in 1998, but well before that year criminals were still finding ways to steal information and profit at the expense of their victims.  The common scenario finds the identity thief posing as someone else, withdrawing funds from bank accounts or piling up charges on credit cards, and in some cases even buying homes or apartments in the name of someone else.  Eventually, the criminal can disappear, leaving the debt and negative credit consequences in the victim’s name to handle.

There are several things that individual’s can do to protect themselves from falling victim to identity theft.  Although the Internet has opened new doors for criminals looking to steal information, such as phishing scams, nearly 70% of identity theft still occurs the old fashioned way.  Activities such as stealing mail, digging through garbage cans, or even looking over a consumer’s shoulder at an ATM machine can lead to a wealth of information for criminals.  Some measures that you can take to protect yourself include purchasing a shredder to destroy all documents containing sensitive information, using a mailbox that can only be accessed with a key, and being careful not to send confidential information electronically.

Individuals who become identity theft victims may be forced to spend huge amounts of time getting their lives back together.  It’s critical to immediately cancel missing credit cards and contact your bank to put a stop on stolen checks and disable debit and ATM cards when you suspect that someone could be authorizing transactions in your name.  The first step that should be taken if you suspect that someone has stolen your identity is to contact the Federal Trade Commission, the government body assigned to handle identity theft cases.  It would also be a good idea to report the crime to your local FBI office.  Next, you should contact the three credit rating agencies (Equifax, Experian, and Trans Union) to report that fraud may have been committed in your name.

Fortunately, identity theft has actually declined in frequency over the past couple of years as more people have become aware of how easy it is for criminals to access unprotected information.  However, it remains a serious problem with serious consequences for victims.  It’s vital to be vigilant in protecting your information to ensure you don’t fall victim to identity theft.

It seems like you hear about all the security threats on the internet everywhere these days.

On the news, in magazines, on the radio – everywhere you turn there seems to be all these warnings of pending doom for anyone who uses the net.

The fact is, there are a lot of threats but like any other news, all you hear about is the bad stuff. The media thrives on giving us bad news and then piling it on to make it sound like the end of the world is near.

That’s how they sell advertising.

The reality is, the threats are there but you’re not necessarily one step away from losing your identity, having your bank account cleaned out by some hacker and getting tricked into giving a bunch of money to some scammer through spam email.

A lot of this stuff is just using your common sense. The internet’s no different than any other form of communication. If someone called you on the phone and offered you something that sounded too good to be true, you’d probably think twice. You should do the same on the internet.

If you want to learn more about how to protect yourself and your family online without having to become a technical wizard, you might want to check out my Online Security Toolkit:

www.OnlineSecurityToolkit.com

It explains how you can protect yourself from things like identity theft, spyware and viruses, as well as how you can keep your kids safe from all the nasty stuff (and people) they can run into on the net.