Email Virus tips
- Never open attachments in emails where you do not recognise the sender's address. If you do recognise the sender's address, double check, this could be a virus that has spoofed a friend's email address. Only open the attachment if you are expecting something from that person.
- Do not enable the preview window in Outlook or Outlook Express.
Spam tips
- Never reply to spam, just delete it. Venting spleen in reply to spam may give some temporary satisfaction but it simply confirms to the spammer that your email address is active and the emails are being read by someone - this makes your email address more valuable to spammers and will result in more spam.
- Never use the "remove me from your list" or similar links unless you trust the sender. Spammers use this to confirm that your address is valid (see above).
Firewalls
The security of the average home PC has been said to be about as safe as a tethered goat in a jungle full of tigers! We agree that most systems with a default setup are wide open to attack, and in most cases you will not even know your system has been infiltrated.
It is therefore vital to ensure that your system has a good quality firewall. This need not be expensive, and setup is relatively straightforward. We recommend Norton Internet Security, which includes both Firewall and Anti-Virus software. |
