| Start With the Basics - Protect Your
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| | lists, temporary files, and caches. The
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| PCGuarding Access to Your PC - Get a
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| | best case is that these "leftovers" can
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| FirewallBeginning in the Zhou Dynasty,
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| | clutter up your PC, and, with time,
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| which was in the 11th century BC,
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| | degrade its performance. The worst case
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| construction was begun on what was to
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| | is that someone who gains unauthorized
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| become the Great Wall of China. For 2,700
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| | access to your PC can read these files
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| years, culminating in the mid-1600s,
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| | and learn a fair amount about you,
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| construction continued on the wall until
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| | potentially helping them to steal your
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| it stretched 4,163 miles from east to
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| | identity.Privacy software removes all
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| west China. The wall was constructed to
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| | traces of your PC and Internet activity,
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| prevent invasion by other states of China
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| | helping to protect your privacy.As with
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| and outer tribes.When you connect your PC
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| | antivirus software and anti-spyware
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| to the Internet either through cable,
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| | software, privacy software should be run
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| dial-up, or DSL, it is like China prior
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| | on a regular basis. It, too, can be setup
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| to the Great Wall. Anyone can invade your
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| | to run automatically on a regular basis
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| PC, and plunder, pillage, and destroy
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| | so that an end-user does not have to do
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| content on your PC. A firewall acts just
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| | anything to protect their privacy. The
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| like the Great Wall of China. When
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| | first time the privacy software is run it
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| installed, it acts as a barrier between
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| | is not at all uncommon for it to recover
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| your PC and the outside world. It
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| | in excess of 500MB of disk space by
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| prevents unwanted and unauthorized access
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| | deleting the "leftover stuff" on your
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| to your PC over your Internet
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| | PC.To prevent unauthorized intruders from
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| connection.Firewalls come in two basic
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| | being able to gather information about
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| forms:
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| | you, select one of the privacy packages
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| Hardware firewalls - hardware firewalls
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| | and install it on your PC.Think Before
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| are a piece of hardware, like a PC, that
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| | You Click - Use Some Common SenseA little
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| gets installed between your PC and your
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| | common sense can go a long way when
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| Internet connection. Literally, a cable
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| | trying to protect your PC. Most of what
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| from your cable or DSL modem gets
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| | can compromise your security will come
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| connected to the hardware firewall.
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| | through e-mail, or when you are surfing
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| Another cable is connected from the
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| | the web. Because of this, you definitely
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| hardware firewall to your PC. When done,
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| | need to think before you click. If you
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| the hardware firewall acts as a barrier
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| | have not realized it already, most
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| between your PC and the Internet. It lets
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| | unsolicited e-mail is garbage. No matter
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| you get out to the Internet, but it does
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| | how good the offer may sound, the common
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| not allow unauthorized access from the
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| | sense rule of "if it sounds too good to
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| Internet to your PC. Many cable, DSL, and
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| | be true, it is..." applies. Most of what
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| wireless routers/switches have firewalls
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| | you receive unsolicited is designed to
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| built into them.
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| | scam you out of money, to trick you into
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| Software firewalls - A software firewall
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| | divulging private information, to install
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| serves the same purpose as a hardware
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| | spyware and adware on your computer, or
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| firewall. It, however, is software that
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| | to install viruses on your
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| gets installed directly onto your PC. The
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| | computer.Identifying Suspect E-MailsSo
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| software monitors all inbound and
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| | how do you identify the bad "stuff"? It
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| outbound Internet traffic, and creates a
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| | actually is fairly easy to identify
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| software barrier between the Internet
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| | "suspect" e-mails. Common bad or suspect
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| port into your PC and everything else on
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| | e-mails include:
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| your PC. Once installed, it lets you get
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| | E-mails from people or companies with
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| out to the Internet, but it does not
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| | whom you have never corresponded or
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| allow unauthorized access from the
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| | conducted business. You may receive
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| Internet to your PC. Software firewalls
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| | e-mails that you need to verify your
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| have an advantage in that they can
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| | account information from a company that
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| implement rigid controls over what
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| | you do not do business with. You may
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| software installed on your PC will be
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| | receive a message that looks like it is
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| allowed to access the Internet.
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| | from eBay that says they are going to
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| Many people use both a hardware firewall
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| | shut off your account and you have never
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| and a software firewall. It is similar to
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| | done business with eBay. Individuals and
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| having a fence to protect access to your
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| | groups trying to perpetrate fraud will go
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| yard, and then a front door to protect
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| | to great lengths to try to look like a
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| access to your house. Everyone should use
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| | legitimate business. You need to use
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| at least one firewall, hardware or
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| | common sense. If it does not "feel"
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| software. If you have a laptop, you
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| | right, it probably is not.
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| should use a software firewall. That way
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| | E-mails with gibberish in the title or
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| the firewall goes with you, wherever you
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| | in the body of the message.
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| go, protecting your PC.
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| | E-mails from friends, relatives, or
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| Find more information on software
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| | business associates that do not make any
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| firewalls here.
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| | sense.
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| Find more information on free software
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| | E-mails from yourself that you never
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| firewalls here.
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| | sent or e-mails that are "returned" to
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|
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| | you from someone that you have never
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| Plug the Holes - Make Sure to Download
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| | corresponded with.
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| Operating System Updates and PatchesBy
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| | This list can go on forever with the
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| now, the security holes and flaws in
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| | many subtle variations. The bottom line
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| Windows have become legendary. To their
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| | is that if it does not feel right then
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| credit, Microsoft publishes a steady
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| | consider it to be a bad e-mail.Suspect
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| stream of fixes, patches, and update
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| | e-mails should be deleted. Never click on
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| releases to plug all known security
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| | links in suspect e-mails. Never open file
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| holes, flaws, and problems. In order for
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| | attachments to suspect e-mails. Never
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| your PC to benefit from these patches and
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| | reply or forward suspect e-mails. Simply
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| updates, you must, at a minimum, download
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| | delete them and move on.Safe
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| and install the critical security updates
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| | SurfingInstalling firewall software and
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| that Microsoft makes available. You can
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| | antivirus software, and running
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| do this one of two ways:
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| | anti-spyware software and privacy
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| You may download and install them
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| | software should go a long way to
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| manually by visiting the "Microsoft
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| | protecting you when your are surfing.
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| Update" link on the Microsoft web site.
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| | Here, again, some common sense applies.
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| For newer versions of Windows, such as
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| | Avoid sites that do not "feel" right.
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| Windows XP, you can turn on the
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| | Sites that are constantly trying to get
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| "Automatic Updates" feature of the
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| | you to fill out forms before you have
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| operating system and allow the updates to
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| | much of a chance to learn anything about
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| be downloaded and installed
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| | the site and the organization who owns
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| automatically.
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| | the site are highly suspect. Pornography
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| Either method works well. The "Automatic
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| | sites are famous for downloading spyware
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| Updates" route takes the thought and work
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| | and viruses onto people's computers.
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| out of the process. Regardless of which
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| | Stick to sites you know, the sites of
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| method you choose, the important thing is
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| | reputable companies, and sites that come
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| to keep Windows up to date. Out of date
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| | recommended by people you trust and you
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| versions of Windows can leave your PC
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| | should be okay.Protecting Your KidsNow
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| open to hackers and viruses.If you are
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| | that you have taken care of the basics
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| using Mac OS or LINUX, then none of this
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| | and protected you PC, it is time to
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| applies. You are already using inherently
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| | specifically worry about keeping your
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| more secure operating systems. It is
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| | kids safe. When trying to protect your
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| still, however, important to install
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| | children, it is important to:
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| updates and patches to these operating
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| | Set expectations
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| systems as well to be up to date and to
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| | Monitor and control what your children
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| provide the best protection against
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| | do online
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| unwanted intrusion.Take Your Medicine -
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| | Use some common sense
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| Install Antivirus SoftwareA computer
| |
| | Setting Online ExpectationsIt is
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| virus is an unwanted software program
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| | important for you as a parent to be clear
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| that:
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| | with your children what you expect of
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| Gets loaded onto your PC
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| | them when they are using the PC. You need
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| Replicates itself, meaning that it
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| | to be clear about what you consider to be
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| copies itself and distributes itself to
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| | appropriate online behavior, as well as
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| other computers
| |
| | what is and is not appropriate to be
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| A virus can get onto your computer from
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| | accessing online. Children should be
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| any of several sources, including:
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| | taught:
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| From a removable disk
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| | That they should never give out personal
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| From an attachment to an e-mail message
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| | information such as their name, address,
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| From a download while surfing the web
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| | e-mail address, phone number, or age to
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| From a worm through a known hole or flaw
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| | anyone over the Internet without your
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| in your operating system
| |
| | express permission.
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| Once on your PC, the impact of a virus
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| | That they should never fill out forms
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| can range from relatively benign to
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| | without your permission.
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| rendering your PC unusable.Antivirus
| |
| | That they should tell you if they come
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| software is software that you use to
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| | across anything or anyone online that
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| protect yourself from computer viruses.
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| | they feel is not appropriate or that
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| It can detect and remove known computer
| |
| | makes them uncomfortable.
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| viruses. There are many excellent
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| | That they should ask before downloading
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| antivirus packages available that are
| |
| | or installing software on a PC.
|
| relatively inexpensive. There are also
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| | That they should never, under any
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| several excellent antivirus packages
| |
| | circumstances, arrange to meet alone with
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| available for free for home,
| |
| | someone who they have met online. This
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| non-commercial use.
| |
| | can be especially important for your
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| Find more information on antivirus
| |
| | teenage children who may feel that they
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| packages here
| |
| | have met the boy or girl of their dreams
|
| Find more information on free antivirus
| |
| | online. If they feel that they absolutely
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| packages here
| |
| | must meet this individual, then they
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| To prevent viruses form being able to
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| | should arrange to do it with a
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| harm your PC, you need to select one of
| |
| | responsible adult present. You should
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| the antivirus packages and install it on
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| | remind them that it is very easy for
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| your PC.TIPS: Make sure that your
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| | someone to masquerade as someone else
|
| antivirus software is setup to:
| |
| | online.
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| Automatically check for updates so that
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| | Monitor and Control What Your Children
|
| its' virus definitions database is up to
| |
| | Do OnlineThe PC that your children use
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| date and you are protected from the
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| | should be setup in a public location
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| latest threats. Most updates are provided
| |
| | where it is easy for you to monitor what
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| on an annual subscription basis. Make
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| | your children are doing. It is very
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| sure that you renew your subscription
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| | difficult for a child to engage in
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| when it expires. Free products, such as
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| | questionable online activities when
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| AVG Anti-Virus Free Edition, provide the
| |
| | everyone in the family can easily look
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| updates at no cost.
| |
| | over their shoulder. If you have children
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| Automatically perform a virus scan at
| |
| | who participate in chat rooms or use
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| least once a week. If the PC is used to
| |
| | instant messaging software you should
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| surf the web extensively then you may
| |
| | regularly ask them who they are
|
| wish to perform virus scans more
| |
| | communicating with. If they are evasive
|
| frequently, even once a day.
| |
| | or do not tell you, take away their
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| Stop the Spies - Install Anti-Spyware
| |
| | computer privileges. Having a safe mad
|
| SoftwareAdware is any software that
| |
| | child is better than having an unsafe
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| displays advertisements on your computer
| |
| | happy one.There is also software that can
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| screen, either through banner
| |
| | help parents protect their children.
|
| advertisements within an application, or
| |
| | Software to help keep children safe comes
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| through pop-up windows. Spyware, which
| |
| | in two forms: monitoring software, and
|
| may also be known as a spybot, or
| |
| | parental control software.Monitoring
|
| tracking software, is computer technology
| |
| | software allows parents to monitor
|
| installed on an individual's PC that
| |
| | activity on the family PC. Many packages
|
| gathers information about them and their
| |
| | will allow you to monitor computer
|
| computer use. Adware and spyware removal
| |
| | activity including web surfing activity,
|
| software, or anti-spyware software, is
| |
| | e-mail messages, chat, and instant
|
| software that is installed on your
| |
| | messaging. Some software will even allow
|
| computer to combat the threats of adware
| |
| | screen shots to be taken at predetermined
|
| and spyware. It will search your
| |
| | increments of time. Many of these
|
| computer's memory, file system, system
| |
| | packages will operate in stealth mode,
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| registry, and browser caches for the
| |
| | meaning that no one will know that the
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| existence of adware and spyware. It will
| |
| | software is even installed and running.
|
| then remove or quarantine any items that
| |
| | Of course telling your children that you
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| it finds. Adware and spyware removal
| |
| | have software that is monitoring their
|
| software may also monitor for, and
| |
| | activity may also act a a deterrent.
|
| actively block, the downloading of
| |
| | Monitoring software typically does not
|
| spyware applications.There are two
| |
| | filter out any bad content. It simply
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| excellent anti-spyware programs available
| |
| | lets you know if someone is accessing
|
| for free, Ad-Aware SE Personal from
| |
| | things that are inappropriate.Parental
|
| Lavasoft, and Spybot Search & Destroy
| |
| | control software, or Internet filtering
|
| from Safer Networking Ltd. There are also
| |
| | software, allows parents to control
|
| many excellent anti-spyware packages that
| |
| | content that is displayed and block
|
| range in price from $19.95 to $39.95.
| |
| | specific web sites. Some filtering
|
| Select and install one of these packages
| |
| | software will filter e-mails and chat
|
| and run it on a regular basis.
| |
| | rooms, block pop ups, and even monitor
|
| Find more information on anti-spyware
| |
| | chat rooms. This software is, by its very
|
| packages here
| |
| | nature, more intrusive than monitoring
|
| Find more information on free
| |
| | software. It will filter out a lot of bad
|
| anti-spyware packages here
| |
| | stuff. It may also miss some bad stuff.
|
| To prevent adware and spyware from being
| |
| | It may also filter out some good
|
| able to gather information about you, you
| |
| | things.The choice of which software to
|
| need to select one of the anti-spyware
| |
| | use will come down to personal
|
| packages and install it on your PC.TIPS:
| |
| | preference. Some parents use both. If you
|
| Similar to antivirus software, make sure
| |
| | choose to use no software than having the
|
| that your anti-spyware software is setup
| |
| | family PC in a public place and asking
|
| to:
| |
| | questions about what your children are
|
| Automatically check for updates so that
| |
| | doing online becomes much more
|
| its' adware/spyware definitions database
| |
| | important.Use Some Common SenseYou should
|
| is up to date and you are protected from
| |
| | be aware if your child becomes secretive
|
| the latest threats. The two free
| |
| | about what they are doing online.
|
| packages, Ad-Aware and Spybot do not have
| |
| | Averting a computer monitor, or quickly
|
| automatic update features, so you will
| |
| | turning it off whenever someone walks
|
| need to perform this task manually.
| |
| | into the room is not normal computer
|
| Ad-Aware at least tells you that your
| |
| | behavior. It is, however, the behavior of
|
| definitions database is getting old and
| |
| | an individual who is trying to hide
|
| asks you if you want to update it.
| |
| | something. If your child is exhibiting
|
| Automatically perform an adware/spyware
| |
| | "odd" computer behavior question them. If
|
| scan at least once a week. If the PC is
| |
| | you get no answers or you do not like the
|
| used to surf the web extensively then you
| |
| | answers, take away their computer
|
| may wish to perform scans more
| |
| | privileges and/or get software that
|
| frequently, even once a day. Ad-Aware SE
| |
| | monitors their activity. As has already
|
| Personal will only run automatically at
| |
| | been stated, a mad safe child is better
|
| system startup time. If you leave your
| |
| | than a happy unsafe one.Rob Pirozzi is a
|
| computer on all of the time then you will
| |
| | freelance writer who provides timely,
|
| have to remember to manually run the
| |
| | quality professional writing of all
|
| scans. Spybot can be scheduled to run
| |
| | types. He is also the publisher of the
|
| automatically as one of its "Advanced
| |
| | web site NuttyAboutSports.com, a web site
|
| Mode" features.
| |
| | dedicated to fans of popular North
|
| Spring Cleaning - Think About Privacy
| |
| | American Sports, including baseball,
|
| SoftwareAs you use your computer, and
| |
| | basketball, football, hockey, lacrosse,
|
| surf the web, traces of your activity get
| |
| | motor sports, softball, soccer, and
|
| left behind, stored on your computer in
| |
| | tennis!
|
