Firewall

Firewalls help protect your system from hackers by monitoring the internet traffic that travels to and from your computer. They can be one of the most effective ways to protect your computer.

Each computer should have a software firewall. However, if you have two or more networked computers, it might also be worth considering adding a hardware firewall to protect your network.

Antivirus

Antivirus software helps protect your computer against the really bad stuff, such as viruses, worms and Trojan horses that may:

• damage your files or hard drive
• allow intruders to gather your personal information, or
• allow intruders to access your computer to attack others without your knowledge.

When choosing antivirus software consider software that provides:

1. Real-time scanning which scans for viruses as you are using your computer, detecting potential threats if and when they arise.
2. Scheduled scanning which performs a thorough scan of your hard disk at a set time, eliminating the risk of forgetting to check for viruses.
3. Automatic email scanning to help reduce the risk of receiving a virus via email or instant messaging (IM) from an infected computer.
4. Automatic updateswhich will update new virus definitions automatically so your software is able to scan for all known viruses, including any new ones.

Anti-spyware

Anti-spyware software detects, disables and removes spyware and helps prevent other spyware being installed in the future.

Many antivirus programs also include spyware scanning as a feature. If you already have antivirus software, check to see if spyware scanning is included or if it can be added.

Anti-spam

Some spam emails are just annoying, but others carry malicious software that can be detrimental to your computer or online security.

There are many programs around that can help block or filter spam before it reaches you. Many Internet Service Providers (ISP) and antivirus providers also provide spam-filtering services that you can take advantage of for free or for an additional fee.

How do I protect myself against crimeware?

There is no failsafe way to completely guard against crimeware, however, the following guidelines will help provide you with a high level of protection.

1. Use reputable antivirus and anti-spyware software and set up a firewall. Ensure they are always up to date and enabled.
2. Regularly install updates to your computer's operating system. Keep your personal details private. Don't include sensitive information such as your passwords or account numbers in emails, or record them anywhere on your computer.
3. Keep your personal details private. Don't include sensitive information such as your passwords or account numbers in emails, or record them anywhere on your computer.
4. Check that the site you are on is genuine and not a fake site masquerading as the real one. On secure areas of the site, genuine Trading Post pages always start with or .
5. Don't respond to emails that ask you for personal information, or ask you to go to a website to confirm or update your details. These are called phishing emails. Trading Post® will never send you an email asking you to confirm or update your personal details.
6. Read privacy policies before you disclose any personal details. As boring as this might seem, it is likely to tell you how an organisation collects and uses personal information.
7. Check your bank account and credit card statements regularly. This will help you identify any unusual activity on your account and address it quickly to reduce the risk of further loss.
8. If in doubt, seek advice from a reputable computer consultant. Check out www.yellowpages.com.au to find a consultant that services your area.

Want to know more?

Read:

• Methods of attack for information on crimeware tools and other types of malicious software
• our safe trading tips for other suggestions for protecting yourself against cybercrime.

Related Topics

Methods of attack
Protect yourself from cybercrime
Buying and selling safely
Email phishing and spam