The Internet Security Guide for Home Users

What are the Risks?

There are two main risks involved when connecting to the Internet:

• bad traffic directed at your computer (e.g., hackers, intruders, viruses, worms, etc.) and
• bad programs that can get installed on your computer against your wishes (e.g., viruses, trojans, spyware).

This guide describes methods that are available to protect against bad traffic and bad programs.

If you do not do this you are virtually guaranteed to have problems ranging from unwanted advertisements to slow performance to theft of your personal information.

You must follow all the steps in this guide in order to gain any reasonable level of protection when surfing on the Internet.

Essential Security Steps

1. Introduction
2. What are the risks?
3. What to do and when to do it
4. Making the Connection: Dial-Up or High Speed
5. Your Security Software: Purchase or Download?
6. Personal Firewalls
7. Anti-Virus Software
8. Anti-Spyware Software
9. Updates and Patches

Extras & Links

ABC News article on Internet security risks