Internet Browsing Safety

Internet Safety Tips: How to Avoid Spyware

If you think devious Web sites are the only places where spyware awaits its victims, you are in for a shock. Spyware lurks in many corners of the Internet; often in places where you'd least expect it. All it takes is to be in the wrong place at the wrong time to compromise your Internet browsing safety.

Here’s where the danger lies:

• You open your Web browser and begin browsing
• You visit a site and unknowingly fall into a spyware trap, such as:
  • A pop-up you click on, even to close it
  • A deceptive link that you follow
  • A clickable graphic that leads down a dangerous path
• Spyware loads onto your PC without your knowledge
• Sometimes simply opening a Web page or an HTML email starts the installation
• Your computer is infected and your personal information is at risk

Spyware quickly begins its task of stealing your information (including credit card numbers, usernames and passwords), directing your browser to suspect sites, changing or deleting your files, pummeling you with pop-ups and slowing your PC to a crawl.

Internet browsing safety

Internet safety can be deceiving. Seemingly reputable sites may contain spyware traps, or the sites themselves may be counterfeit —phishing sites posing as the real thing to lure you into their scams and debacles. The path away from Internet safety often begins innocently enough; however, certain sites are more prone to be a source of spyware, including:

• Adult sites
• File sharing sites
• Social networking sites

Follow these internet safety tips for avoiding spyware and fortify your computer security right away:

• Avoid questionable Web sites
• Only download software from sites you trust. Carefully evaluate free software and file-sharing applications before downloading them.
• Update your operating system regularly
• Increase your browser security settings
• Type in a trusted URL for a company's site into the address bar of your browser to bypass links in an email or instant message
• Make sure that you have the best security software [http://www.webroot.com] products installed on your PC:
• Use antivirus protection and a firewall
• Get antispyware software protection

Stay safe online

An unprotected computer is like an open door for Web sites that threaten your Internet safety with spyware and computer viruses. Firewalls monitor Internet traffic in and out of your computer and hide your PC from online scammers looking for easy targets. Products like Webroot Internet Security Essentials andWebroot AntiVirus with Spy Sweeper make avoiding spyware easier by thwarting spyware and viruses before they can enter your PC, standing guard at every possible entrance of your computer and fending off threats that try to enter, even the most damaging and devious strains. If a spyware or virus threat is detected, questionable content is quarantined or deleted. While free antispyware and antivirus downloads are available, they just can't keep up with the continuous onslaught of new spyware strains. Previously undetected forms of spyware and viruses can often do the most damage, so it's critical to have up-to-the-minute, guaranteed protection.