Ensure you have Anti-virus protection
These are a type of software that looks out for computer viruses and helps you to remove any viruses or suspicious programs that they find.
We strongly recommend that you have up-to-date Anti-virus software installed on your home computer and that you ensure that the software is kept up to date with the latest virus definitionsand that a scan of all files on your PC is scheduled at least weekly.
If you access the Internet from your work, you should also ensure that your employer has installed an anti-virus solution.
Make sure you are protected by a Firewall
A firewall can shield your computer from unauthorised access and block unwanted Internet activity
If you are using your home computer to access the Internet you should use a software firewall. If you use any other PC (eg at work) check that your employer is maintaining a firewall.
It is recommended that your Firewall is set up to work on both incoming and outgoing internet traffic, so that you control not only what you allow into your PC, but also have control over what leaves it.
Keep your computer software up to date
Occasionally publishers will discover vulnerabilities in their software and will issue an update known as a patch to correct the problems and to prevent hackers compromising your computer.
You should regularly check for updates to the main software on your computer by visiting the suppliers website or using the update features in their software where these are available.
Know about Trojans and Spyware
Trojans are hidden programs that contain malicious code designed to give control of your computer to a hacker or record activity. They can also be used to delete files or even view the contents of your screen. They can be used to record keystrokes with the aim of capturing user ids and passwords that are then passed on to the person controlling the Trojan.
Spyware is software that is placed on a computer to secretly gather information about the user, and their browsing habits that are then passed on to advertisers or other interested parties.
These programs are often installed without the user's consent as a result of visiting a website or through clicking on an option in a deceptive pop-up window. Spyware can also be carried in viruses or installed alongside other free software downloaded from the Internet. You should read the license agreements for such software very carefully before you agree to install it and only download software from reputable sources. Spyware can slow down your computer, alter your homepage, produce lots of adverts or links to websites and even include what’s known as keystroke loggers to record details such as passwords and user names.