Introduction
Using the Internet is something that is daily if not constant for many people. They use it for communicating, for doing business, doing research, and a host of other reasons. The Internet is a very useful resource to many and can provide unrivaled information right at your finger tips. There are many ways to protect yourself when you are using the Internet from people who may want to take advantage of you and take valuable personal and financial information to use for their own gain and profit.
Instructions
You can never be too safe when you are using the computer and the Internet, especially if you are connected with a high speed connection like most people are now. There are many precautions you can take to protect your personal information and there is a wide variety of ways to keep safe while online. Using online virus scans can be right for some people but not for others. Here is some information that will help you to avoid problematic online virus scans.
Steps
1. Know if it’s right for you — Using online virus scans is not right for everyone. There are some people who would find it more cumbersome than advantageous and would prefer to do it on their own. They are good for people who may not have any or very little experience with an anti-virus scanning program. One of the reasons it is good for them is that an online scan often provides step by step instructions to solve a problem and eliminate an infected file or program. For people who have an installed program to detect and remove viruses, it doesn’t make much sense to use an online scan. Some advantages they provide are less compatibility problems, ease of management and use, and some sites may have quicker or more up to date databases used for scanning than an installed program. Ultimately you have to be the one to make the decision if using an online virus scan is right for you.
2. Use an installed program if possible — Online scans should never be a replacement for using an installed anti-virus software program on your computer, especially if it is a family or personal computer. There may be situations where a restricted network won’t allow you to install a program but they are usually protected from intrusions in other ways as well. Online scans provide fewer features than installed scanners and may or may not be easier to use. They are not customizable and cannot adapt to specific situations and user habits like other programs can. One of the most obvious disadvantages of online scans is that they are not proactive. They are only useful when you are trying to solve a problem or infection that has already occurred. Online scanners can’t provide protection from future problems but can only help you solve ones that have already happened.
3. Protect yourself first — your personal security is more important than any feature that may be offered by an online scanner, no matter how cool it may be. Keep in mind that not everyone out there has your best interest at heart and that people may try and get you to use a scanner that could give them access to important information. Trust your judgment and stick to names and products that you know and trust.
Conclusion
There are so many options when it comes to keeping yourself safe online. It is important that you evaluate each opportunity and make the decisions that are going to be the best for you. You don’t need to do something just because someone else is or it’s the most popular and the latest thing. Your security should always be at the forefront of your mind when you are using a computer online. Remember that there is no good substitute for good judgment.
