The Internet is fraught with hidden dangers that can trap even the most careful Windows user. Adware and spyware infections, crafted by malicious programmers to secretly infect your PC to either bombard you with pop-up adverts or steal sensitive information from your computer and pass it to online criminals. More recently, these threats have been joined by phishing attacks designed to fool you into imparting sensitive details such as your online banking password, and clickjacking, the latest threat to Windows users online. A few simple precautions can help you stay safe while online, most notably, if you receive an email purporting to be from your bank asking for details of your password, or offering you something that is too good to be true, then under no circumstances click on to the links. They will probably be designed to take you to a malicious site designed to steal your details or infect your PC with spyware. In this article, well tell you the other steps you need to follow to stay safe, and more importantly how to recognise and remove infections if they do infiltrate your PC.
Category: Internet & Security
Issue: 2009 Issue 2 March/April
Operating Systems: XP, Vista, 7
Article Reference: I26