Click here for some insider tips on Internet marketing!
No, we are not joking. When you surf the Internet, check email, chat in ICQ or whatever you do, as long as you are connected to Internet, your computer could be hacked!
When you are connected to Internet, you expose some ports of your computer to the outside world. There are hacking software out there that hackers can use to check which computers are vulnerable to attack. When the hacker finds one computer which is vulnerable to attack, s/he will try to intrude into the computer for any purpose.
Perhaps s/he wants just want to have a look at what is inside your computer. Perhaps it's just for fun. In some cases, the hacker would install some kind of malicious software (trojan horse or virus) that does something bad. In certain cases, the software installed on many victims' computers can be used to collectively to hack into another computer or web site on the Internet (Distributed Denial of Service).
Most Internet users are not aware of this fact. To check whether your computer is safe from attack, visit http://www.symantec.com/securitycheck/
To protect your computer from being hacked is not difficult. Just like there are anti-virus software to protect from viruses, there are so-called "personal firewall" software to hide and protect yourself on the Internet.
One good solution is Norton Internet Security From Symantec, the maker of Norton AntiVirus. You can get more information at http://www.symantec.com
However, if you are looking for a FREE solution, in fact there is one very good software called ZoneAlarm. This software is free for personal use. The benefits of having ZoneAlarm are:
Mind you, one customer has told us that ZoneAlarm has detected altogether 12 attempts to detect and/or attack their computer within just 3 hours on the day they installed ZoneAlarm!
ZoneAlarm also prevents unauthorized programs on your computer to send out secret information out to the open Internet. These programs, called spyware, are often bundled together with some other software. When you install these software, you install the spyware as well.
Spyware are often used to detect your Internet browsing habits in order to serve the best banner advertisements when you are surfing the Internet. Your privacy is undermined.
Spyware is not necessary illegal or unethical. But some spyware go beyond privacy concern and actually connects to some server on the Internet and download some malicious software (trojan horse or virus) for use as mentioned above.
It is important we ensure safety when using the Internet. We urge all customers to install a personal firewall, perhaps ZoneAlarm. Visit http://www.zonealarm.com
If you find this piece of information useful, pleae help others by telling them or forwarding this article to them.