1 Comment December 3, 2007 – 11:05 am

Continued from page 1…

Here are some safeguards I use to protect myself online. Hope one or all eight, you’ll find useful or are already using yourself:

1. Have a firewall, anti-spyware and anti-virus programs and run them at least weekly. Yahoo toolbar has its own anti-spyware free from Computer Associates (CA). Getting that would be a good addon.  I use that on top of my other anti-spyware.

2. Make it a habit to delete your browsing history, cookies, sessions and caches; all of which may be found under tools then internet option in your web browser. The longer it sits there, the longer you’re giving these sites to know more about you and your internet habits.

3. If you have a router, at least every week or every 3 days, turn it completely off overnight so it would reboot and give a different IP address the next day you use it. Sometimes it doesn’t work. I’ve complained about this with my internet provider and they just say they already change it. I check my ip address almost everyday and they always stay the same!!

4. Know what you’re clicking. Know that it is a legitimate website. Don’t go to gaming sites and avoid porn sites like the plague!! They are known to place trackers, tracers and gad knows what else on your computer! If you have to, just rent out DVDs!

5. Careful what you say or do online especially in forum/community sites because these sites can ban IP addresses and you’ll never be able to visit that website again unless you go to an internet shop- but that is so inconvenient. Where I live, there’s not one internet shop around. There are hot spots for wireless internet but is unsecure. There is also the library with free internet use but they’re only open office hours- the same time you’re working- so forget that.

Just be careful especially when you leave messages, you might have signed your name ‘anonymous’ but websites know your IP address so next time you visit? you’re banned! There is a workaround, sometimes clearing your cache, browsing history, cookies and etc., will make you log on again using a different user but it doesn’t always work.

6. You know this but still worth noting, never share your password with anybody- just like you don’t give away the pin code of your ATM card! It’s been a known fact that the people who most likely will steal your identity is someone you know!

7. If you do online banking, check your account daily!! Check your credit card accounts daily as well. The only way to know someone illegally used your credit card is by checking your daily activities. If you noticed an unknown purchase, call your credit card company at once! Most online thieves start by charging small amounts in your card. if you’re unaware, next thing you know- your next month’s bill has skyrocketed and your card is maxed out. Almost all credit card companies now protect their customers up to a certain amount for usage they didn’t use but it is still good to be aware the moment there is an unauthorized purchase.

8. Check your IP address and make note of it (write it down) to see if it’s constantly changing. Some IP address websites I use to check my IP:

http://www.whatsmyipaddress.com

http://www.hostip.info/

http://whatismyipaddress.com/

9. Dial up is a blessing in this way because everytime you log in, you’re always given a different IP. I will NOT go back to dial up for that reason nonetheless. I have too much going on in the internet that having a broadband connection is worth it. Dial up should just be completely eliminated because it is soooo slooooww…

Best of luck to us all in our net surfing!

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