These hackers and spammers are using the computers to send out spam and to attack other computers without the owner’s knowledge. Unfortunately, the computer world today is a dangerous one. Yet, you can protect yourself fairly easily if you simply change some of your online behavior. 

First, don’t open any attachments unless you are expecting them and you know the sender. Viruses that can overtake your computer are commonly sent in email attachments. These viruses are unleashed when the attachment is opened. Don’t be fooled by thinking the attachment is okay because someone you know sent it. Viruses can email themselves using names they get from another person’s address book. So they may look like they are from someone you know when they are actually being sent by a virus. To thwart viruses, you will also need to be sure that you have a good antivirus program installed on your computer and that you update it regularly. 

Just as importantly, don’t click on links in email, especially email that is asking you to go to a credit card, banking, or financial website. Today’s phishing schemes are very common and it is easy to be tricked by them. The phishers send out an email asking you to update your account information. The email looks very real. The link in the email takes you to a very official-looking website that is a very good imitation of a bank, store, or financial institution website. When you fill in your information at this website, you are handing it right over to the bad guys. 

Also be careful about the websites you visit.  Visiting porn sites is a known way to pick up viruses, spyware, and other nasty stuff that can infect your computer. Also be careful about what you download from the Internet. Downloads can sometimes come with spyware and other malicious software.  Running an anti-spyware program on a regular basis is also a good habit to implement in order to keep spyware at bay. 

Last, but not least, protect your operating system. Hackers often penetrate your computer through known holes in the operating system. Be sure to update your operating system software regularly. Of the popular home operating systems, the Mac is probably the safest with Windows Vista coming in second. Whether you use a Mac, Windows Vista, or Windows XP, you still need to make sure that you apply all of the updates that are released by Apple or by Microsoft. If you are using an old operating system like Windows 85, 98, or Me, buy a new computer or make sure that you do not use that computer to access the Internet. Microsoft is no longer supporting those operating systems and they can now be very easily hacked to compromise your computer if it is on the Internet. 

We can make our computer world much safer with just a little effort and by instituting some good computer habits. As Sergeant Phil Esterhaus used to say in Hill Street Blues, “Hey, let’s be careful out there.”