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10 rules for easy and safe Web surfing

1. Get an Antivirus program and make sure you KEEP IT UPDATED!. There are free ones available that are every bit as good as the overpriced ones. I use AVG Antivirus. You can get the free version at grisoft.com. See my EmailIng page.

2. Get a FIREWALL. Accessing the Web without a firewall is like removing the front door of your house. The firewall prevents unauthorized intrusions that can lead to someone taking over your computer. A good one also prevents things that may be already on your computer from sending your personal information to someone else. The firewall that comes with Windows XP (Service Pack 2) is NOT a good one. I use Zonealarm. You can get it free at Zone Labs. Remember, a firewall needs periodic updating, too.

3. Get some good anti-Spyware software, such as Ad- Aware personal and Spybot Search & Destroy. These are both free. I use both, beacuse one catches stuff the other does not. If you must use only one, use Spybot. These products also require updating. Avoid ANY such product advertised in a popup ad or "Scare" ad. See DeFenestration.

4. Please don't use illegal file sharing sites. Whether you think taking copyrighted stuff for free is immoral, illegal, or fattening is between you and God; THE REAL ISSUE is that you can pick up so much C.R.A.P. from such sites that it's not worth it. Such sites may auto-install Auto Dialers to Porn sites, Adware, Spyware, Viruses, Trojans.... You get the idea. Unless you like having your computer cleaned up every couple of months, DON'T.

5. Use Windows update to keep your version of Windows less vulnerable to hacking and malicious sites and software. ( If you use a Macintosh, skip this paragraph!) Automatic update makes this reasonably painless. To turn on Automatic updates, click Start-Control Panel in XP or Start-Settings-Control Panel in earlier versions. Click Automatic Updates and choose your options. In Windows XP, you might have to click “Switch to classic view” on the left-hand side of the control panel before you can see the "Automatic Updates" icon. You will get no further updates for Windows ME and earlier after April 30, 2006!

6. Get a better browser. Your browser is what you use to actually view Web pages. Internet Explorer is the default browser that comes with Windows. You can do WAY better with Firefox. It has fewer security holes than IE, It can easily erase your surfing history, it has tabs so you can view several web pages in the same window, and it’s endlessly customizable with many plugins called extensions. And, ITS FREE! Get it at http://www.mozilla.com/firefox/

7. Don’t let kids on the Web unsupervised. The Web is just like a big city; there are lots of great things to see, but the difference on the Web, is that the Red Light District is never more than one click away. I’m not trying to scare you, only make you aware of the danger. You may never accidentally click on a Porn site (It hasn’t happened to me in 5 years), but there is plenty of it out there, and kids are naturally curious. There are also sick predators that hang out in chat rooms and Blog sites, and they can pose a serious danger to too-trusting kids.

8. If you bank or shop online, take sensible precautions. Use a STRONG password. What’s a strong password? It’s easier to tell you what’s NOT a strong password.

Noodles (ANY real word can be easily cracked, even backwards!)

04151955 (Your date of birth, Wedding anniversary, Phone Number, Social Security Number, Driver’s license Number, or any other personally identifying name or number. Someone stealing your wallet could easily figure it out.)

What’s a really strong password?

gkd4oM8yp1

You say, I can’t remember something like that? I don’t blame you. Here’s the next best thing.

Iybosotsp

Sounds like gibberish, right? Not! It’s the first letters of the first sentence in this paragraph! (If you bank or shop…) Now, isn’t that easier to remember than Iybosotsp? Of course it is! So, pick a favorite saying, Bible verse, speech, etc. and use the first (or second!) letters in the first 8-10 words. If you want to improve on it further, add a couple of number in the middle somewhere… And NEVER NEVER give out your password in response to an email! Read my EmailIng page.

9. Instead of printing them, you can save Web pages to your hard drive for later viewing.

In your browser, click “File”, then “Save As” (In Internet Explorer), or “Save page as” (In Firefox). When the save as… box comes up, you can save as “text” (just pure text, with no fancy formatting), “Html only” (text formatted as the Web page, but no images or pictures), or “Web page, complete” (saves everything). Pay attention to where you’re saving it so you can find it again. I recommend “My Documents”. Please note, this will only save the actual page you are looking at, not any linked pages!

10. There is a LOT of really GOOD software available free or cheap on the Web. There is also a lot of really BAD software out there. The bad stuff can crash your computer BIGTIME, or install all that nasty stuff we just talked about in #4, above. How do you tell the good stuff from the bad stuff? DON’T EVER download something advertised in a pop-up ad, for one thing. Get your downloaded software from reputable sites. A few are pricelessware (freeware), Son of Spy (Freeware), ZDNet (Free and Shareware), and Tucows (Free and Shareware). Or, ask me! I will never recommend something I haven't used!

11. Use GOOGLE! They are the best all-around search site on the Web! (Okay, I said 10 Rules. I guess I got carried away!)

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