Not everyone is trustworthy. The sheer size of the internet and its “virtual” anonymity of transactions and conversations mean ever more vigilance is required. The YOURLifeChoices Security, Spam and Scams page is aimed at providing you with the latest news and updates to keep you secure. Why not get a Free Anti-Virus Scanner, find out the latest Spam and Scams doing the rounds so you are not hit, or read up on how to prevent Identity Theft!

The following tips will assist you to protect your privacy and your financial information.

1. Get protected and stay protected

To protect your computer from unauthorised users accessing your information, it is important to install and update security software and constantly remember to use it. It is important when installing your Anti-Virus packages to set up the scanner to look over your system daily for any suspicious programs

2. Be smart and stay smart

Think before you click. Most importantly, don’t open any suspicious emails from unknown addresses. When you are asked to provide a password, make sure you use strong passwords, which involve at least one letter and number, and change this password every three months.

Always remember if it sounds too good to be true, it is!

3. Make payments safely and securely

When purchasing online, it is important to remember before you enter your credit card details that all secure websites are enabled with a padlock in the web browsers’ frame. Another way to check if you are on a secure site is to look at the website address when you are prompted to submit your credit card details. The site address should begin with “https” with the “s” standing for secure. If you are still unsure about using your credit card over the internet, most sites offer the use of payment over Paypal or Western Union. Another alternative is to purchase a prepaid credit card available from most financial institutions and Australia Post outlets.

4. Be wary of social networking sites

There are many social networking sites on the internet, with the two largest being Myspace and Facebook. In recent times, such social networking sites have been used to access information and data needed to hack into visitor’s email addresses and financial accounts of unsuspecting victims who offered data such as answers to person questions, not realizing this could be used against them. Make sure that you never list any information that may relate to a secret question on any accounts you may have on the internet.

Security of online transactions is a concern for all so AboutSeniors has a handy, downloadable PDF, Staying secure online, which will help you bank, shop and play safely.

Wireless Security

Do you have security on your wireless internet? It takes only a couple of minutes to set up, but can cost a couple of hundred dollars if you don’t!

The idea of kids driving around the streets with their laptop plugged into their cigarette lighter slot for power until they find a unsecured network setup in someone’s home may sound a little far fetched but it does happen. When this happens to you, you could be faced with a large bill from your Internet Service Provider (ISP) depending on how much data is downloaded.

While the above scenario may not happen often, neighbours often find it easier to not pay for internet when they can latch onto you service for free, and slow your download speed. This happens extensively in apartment buildings and units.

So what do you need to do to make your wireless setup secure?

- Start from the beginning, change the default password for accessing your wireless gateway’s configuration page (walk through in the manual)
- Enable encryption – Don’t use WEP, this is easily broken through, Select WPA or WPA2.
- When choosing a password don’t use dictionary words as these are easily cracked also. A combination of letters and numbers including upper and lower case makes it extremely difficult for an experienced hacker to get in. For example MhjKl3op5. Writing these passwords down is essential unless you use abbreviations for a song or phrase.
- Now that the password is setup, you will have to enter it on each computer you use when selecting the wireless network. You only have to do this once and it will be saved after that.

Protecting children online

Protecting children from stumbling across pornographic material, being sexually solicited or playing violent and inappropriate games on the internet is easier to control than you may think.

You don’t need to know much at all about the internet to implement a system of control on a computer, all you need is Net Nanny.

Net Nanny is the leading brand in Family Safety software for the Internet and has been protecting families worldwide since 2001. But how does this software work? And how much does it cost?

Net Nanny is installed on the computer you want protected and begins working immediately. You can set very minimum restrictions or extreme restrictions on the computer users. An example of minimum would be turning on the pornography blocker and internet filter while extreme restrictions would be the monitoring of all instant messaging of users by the system which provides email alerts if potential online predatory behavior, cyberbullying and other inappropriate comments are recorded.

Teenagers see this type of software as an invasion of privacy, and some parents agree, but in this day and age where teenagers are spending increased time online talking to strangers, and are not afraid to meet them, precautions such as these may just keep your children safe.

To find out more about Net Nanny click here.

To download a free 30 day trial version, click here.

Find out what sites are safe for grandchildren.