Security and Safety

As with other activities the introduction of the Internet has caused a massive growth of the Freezone due to the ease of communication and rapid spread of information. Along with this fantastic and useful growth is the spectre of viruses and the security problems inherent in a fast communications system.

Here are some guidelines with regard to security and safety, which may be of value to you in your quest for knowledge

	Upgrade to a better web browser Mozilla is available for almost every operating system and has many security and privacy advantages. Try "tabbed browsing". Manage your cookies. Block pop-up windows. The features are many, but the cost is low - in fact free. http://www.mozilla.org/products/mozilla1.x/
	Use a hardware and/or software firewall A firewall can protect your computer from malicious traffic. A hardware firewall/router (such as the many offerings of companies like Linksys, D-Link, SMC, and others) acts as a barrier between the outside world and your computer. A software firewall, such as ZoneAlarm, performs that function to a lesser degree but can also block malicious programs on your computer from sending data out to the Internet. Windows XP includes a simple firewall, but it is disabled by default. The free version of ZoneAlarm does a very nice job. http://www.zonelabs.com/store/content/home.jsp
	Do not click links in unsolicited email messages Viruses can be delivered to your computer by simply looking at a web page using a vulnerable web browser.
	Keep your operating system and applications updated Use Windows Update to make sure you have the latest security patches installed. Also check for updates to your application programs, especially Microsoft Office. http://windowsupdate.microsoft.com/
	Use an Anti-Virus program If you follow all the recommendations, then a virus will have difficulty in infecting your machine. Single home users may use other popular Anti-Virus programs that are available also. http://www.grisoft.com
	Do not run untrusted applications Running any program that arrives via email or that was downloaded from the Internet can be dangerous. Only run applications that you wish to grant complete access to your computer and the data contained on it.

Educate yourself!

Become a smarter computer user with regard to security issues. Here are a few places to start:

http://www.goldcenturypress.com	For the latest book in Fraud Prevention
http://www.cert.org/tech_tips/home_networks.html	CERT Home Network
http://centralops.net/co/	Find out here the source of domain names and websites.
http://www.microsoft.com/security/home	Microsoft Security Basics for Home Users.
http://www.nsa.gov/index.htm	NSA Security Recommendation Guide.
http://www.grc.com/	Gibson Research. Info on Spyware, Shields-UP/port scan.
http://www.sherpasoft.org.uk/MacVirus/	Viruses & the MAC FAQ if you use an Apple.