Web Threats
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1. Fake e-mails: Fake e-mails can appear to be from reputable companies like Pay Pals and Microsoft. No reputable companies send out unsolicited attachments. They normally have you visit their site. Do not be fooled by official looking e-mails.



2. Attachments: Never open attachments unless YOU specifically asked someone to send them to you. (Don't forget to scan them.)



3. Unsubscribe links: Never unsubscribe from unsolicited spam. It just tells the spammers that your address is real, and they move you to the top of the spam list.



4. Trash that attachment : Make sure you delete the email then delete the email from your email trash can.



5. Protect your e-mail address Entering your e-mail address on Web Pages can result in having your e-mail address added to a spam list. To avoid spam, only enter your e-mail address on a Web page when it is necessary for the Web site to respond to you by e-mail for a password or confirmation message. Many educational and nonprofit sites require an e-mail address solely for the purpose of follow-up solicitation or advertising. In these instances, some type of alternate address should be used. Web sites do not validate the accuracy of the address, just that it is in the correct format ( something@something.org ). Many sites are funded solely by the collection and sale of e-mail addresses.



6. If it seems to good to be "free" it's because it isn't: If you download and install a free program, beware. Chances are, it contains some type of advertising/tracking software that will cause pop-up ads and slow down your machine. Programs like Web-Shots, Weather Bug, Gator, Smiley, Bonzi or Kazza will bog down your computer and increase advertising hits.



7. I didn't know I installed that: You may already have inadvertently installed malicious software by accident. To check, go to Start>Control Panel . Double-click Add or Remove Programs . Look through the list . If you see anything like "Cool Web Search" or "Spin 4 Cash" attempt to uninstall them. You may have to do it in safe mode, but if they keep reappearing, you have a tough one. Go to Google and search for removal tools or instructions. Do not pay for an uninstaller because that is one of the tricks; infect your machine and then try to sell you the antidote.



8. Evil unsigned Active X controllers: One way to stop spyware and other evil programs from being installed on your PC computer is to disable or prompt for unsigned Active X controllers. Open Internet Explorer and go to Tools > Internet Options . Select the Security tab and click Custom Level . Set unsigned ActiveX controllers to Prompt before installing. This forces any program to ask first before being installed. Just be careful what you say yes to.



9. Is it TOO late: If your machine is acting weird, you get pop-ups every time you go to a new page or your homepage has been hijacked, you may have already installed spyware. You should download, install and run a free spyware removal tool called Ad-Aware. Go to the spyware removal tools download page. To learn more about spyware go to our Spyware Information Center.



10. Question everything: Think about which e-mail address you are using, what you are downloading and what windows you are saying yes to. There are lots of dangers out on the Web; you must educate yourself. For online virus scanning, go to Pandasoftware.com. If you get a message and you don't understand it, put the message in google.com and read about it.