Computer Security.

This is a new page and is currently being reviewed, there are however a few basic pointers for good computer security.

1) You should install an anti-virus package, there are plenty good anti-virus packages on the market, many cheap and some are even free. After you have installed your anti-virus package you should ensure that you keep your scanner up to date.

2) Email, do not open unknown or suspicious email, many virus and worms are carried within or even send their own emails, the subject lines and content try to trick you into opening them and thus propagating themselves further. If you have a POP3 email client, then you are strongly recommended to scan your email in advance before you even download it - an excellent mailwasher software is available for this and we detail it on our partners page which can be following this link (click here).If you receive spam and you know for sure that you have not subscribed to the mailing list then whatever you do - do not use the unsubscribe option or go their website to 'remove' your name from the list, the reason being is that you will be telling the spammer - "I read my emails" and "I follow your instructions" this makes you a perfect candidate for crafted email which can lead to even more spam.

3) Keep your pc patched and up to date - for all installed software, this can often be difficult since most vendors have their own update sites, but wherever possible you should ensure that you do this. Microsoft as example have their automatic updates or you can use their update site, when you use automatic updates you usually mitigate the risks of potential open "gates" in your pc, the further out of date your pc is the more vulnerable it is to attack.

4) Login usernames and passwords, try always to use a login name and password, your login name should normally be several characters long and not found in a dictionary and book of common names, your password should be an alphanumeric word consisting of both numbers and characters, try to make this at least 8 characters long and use a mixture of both upper and lower case, don't use the same usernames and passwords on all sites forums etc, keep your passwords safe and try to avoid writing them down. A good hint for remembering passwords is to make up an easy to remember phrase and create a password from that.   example : before I looked at this site I was open to several Threats - could be written as b4IlatsIw0tsT   and would be consider a secure password.

5) Ensure that you know where you are logging into is the site that it claims to be, try to avoid using sites which are only known by an IP address and be careful your not looking at a spoof site with a similar sounding name to the real deal. When using your credit card online look for a secure padlock in your browser window - this must be in the closed position and the site must have an address starting https:// - again be sure that your looking at the real site and not a frame - we don't use frames and you shouldn't be looking at our site within a frame. If you have any doubts contact the webmaster, you can even look up information about who owns a site via one of the many whois sites, although often this information can be false or misleading.

6) Install anti-spyware software, check your ports and vulnerabilities using some of the many online free test my port solutions.

7) If you cannot download a file or open a website because your firewall or anti-virus software is screaming at you, then don't override it or disable it unless you really are wanting to mess up your PC and expose it to the net. This would be a dumb idea, if you don't understand what is going on and you think the software is to blame then contact the manufacturer of the software. Seriously we have heard of people saying I cannot open this music, movie, picture file I downloaded from emule or limewire etc, so I disabled my scanner and now my PC is not working - like duh.

We will update this page with more hints and tips as time becomes available, but as usual we welcome your suggestions and feedback, anything useful will be considered and placed onto our site.