Internet Security Software Checklist

Anyone, who connects an unprotected PC to the Internet and doesn't use Internet security software such as firewall and anti-virus is exposed to a potential attack by cybercriminals.

To avoid security breaches and identity theft, there should be internet security software in place with at a minimum set of firewall, anti-virus and preferably anti-spam protection.

Today there are various flavours of Internet security software available on the market that deliver a good level of online protection.

In this article we will explain you in brief the major concepts of Internet security and how to prevent your computer from being hacked when you surf the Web. We provide the Internet security checklist – a list of must-haves for anyone who connects their computer to the Internet.

The software you should always use and prevention steps you should always take:

Internet Firewall software

Always use firewall software to block unauthorized access to your computer from the Internet. Firewall monitors the inbound and outbound traffic from your PC and blocks unauthorised traffic. Firewall could be a network device, which is a relatively rare among private PC users and software firewall such as Internet Personal Firewall. Norton Internet Security suite contains the internet software firewall.

Anti-virus software

Anti-virus protects your PC from viruses, trojan horses and other malware that can compromise your system's security and lead to data loss. You must not connect your computer to the internet without having installed anti-virus software first. Among the best anti-virus tools is Norton AntiVirus – the most recognised anti-virus tool on the market.

Anti-spyware software

Anti-Spyware protects your PC from spyware programs that try to hijack your personal information and steal sensitive data such as credit card information or your identity. Spyware often aims at stealing passwords and login credentials which can lead to financial fraud and online money theft.

Spyware installs on your computer without notifying you and it often comes with pirate software or software from unreliable sources. You should always use anti-spyware software to prevent personal information theft.
Spy site blocking software

There are numerous booby-trapped and malicious web sites in the Internet that contain malicious code. This code can infect your computer instantly, steal personal information or redirect you to sites that do so.

These sites often distribute spyware. You should always use software for blocking spy-sites.

Identity theft protection

You must ensure the latest software for identity protection is installed on your computer before contacting any web sites that require login and password.

The increase of e-commerce, electronic online payment and online banking the stolen credit card information or identity theft can make your life a misery. Protection against identity theft should be your major concern every time you connect to the internet.

A tool that is highly recommended to protect your personal information from being stolen is Norton Confidential.

Anti-spam and anti-phishing protection

There are numerous software tools out there that help to protect you from phishing e-mails and e-mail fraud. Cybercriminals often use forged emails and scam to steal personal information. You should always install anti-spam and anti-phishing software that will help you prevent those attacks.

Credit Card statement monitoring

Always check your bank statements for suspicious transactions and never reveal your bank account/credit card information to others.

Some internet security tools provide credit card monitoring alerts. This will inform you if your credit card information appears online. This can help prevent fraud if you use your credit card for online transactions.