Security and Protection
VirusesSpamFirewall
Viruses
A computer virus is a program designed specifically to create havoc to your PC by deleting files and sometimes replicating itself and sending via email. With an anti-virus package you'll be sure to stay virus-free.
The secret is to keep the anti-virus program updated. There are automatic features in all of the great programs that work in the background to keep you updated at all times.. so make sure you don't turn those features off.
Is there such a thing as free anti-virus? YES! Get AVG free anti virus from: http://free.grisoft.com/doc/5390/lng/us/tpl/v5#avg-anti-virus-free and click the .exe file name at the bottom of the page.
More Information on Viruses
Wikipedia definition and information about viruses - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Computer_virus How Computer Viruses Work - http://computer.howstuffworks.com/virus.htm Microsoft - www.microsoft.com/security
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If you haven’t received a piece of spam yet and you don’t have an anti-spam program, you mustn’t have an email address. Spam is simply unsolicited marketing material that arrives in your Inbox in the form of an email - just as junk mail accumulates in your letterbox outside.
The worst thing you can do with spam is to reply to it. It’s tempting to reply and ask politely (or not) to be removed from the mailing list but that actually works against you. The spammer sees your address is a valid "live" one and they continue to spam you, sometimes even selling your "live" address to other spammers.
There are free anti-spam programs available that block spam and also work with you to "learn" which emails are Spam. If you spend some time setting them up, you’ll be almost spam free. Visit Australia’s Ms Megabyte - she’s got a guide to the K9 free anti-spam program. www.getmega.com/k9
More information on Spam
Wikipedia definition and information: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/E-mail_spam
Firewall
A firewall is a software program that enforces an access control policy for your computer. Like a traffic light, it can block and permit traffic. A firewall protects your computer from unauthorised access from the outside world (via the internet). If set up, a firewall can also restrict information going out. The latest version of the most popular operating system comes with a very effective firewall which will be sufficient for most small business needs.