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Home Broadband Internet Security Basics

Broadband Internet Security Basics

Any broadband Internet user should be aware of the latest online security threats and the best methods to protect their computer. Given the plethora of computer viruses, spyware, adware, identification theft, and other potential worries, it's good to know what types of products are available to meet your broadband Internet security needs. See "Playing it Safe Online: Internet Security" for more details about online security issues.

A Wealth of Broadband Internet Security Products Available

Whether you're looking for anti-virus, anti-spam, anti-spyware, or any other type of security software, there are many strong candidates vying for your security dollar - Trend Micro, Norton, McAfee, Pc-cillin, Sunbelt CounterSpy, Auslogics, Kaspersky, and Panda to name just a few - all of which offer serious Internet security. Here's a rundown of some basic features your Internet security software program should include.

Internet Security: Anti-Virus Software

Anti-virus software is designed to detect and prevent viruses from infecting your computer along with a myriad of other malware threats. Most programs work in the background on your computer and alert you when a threat is detected, giving you options to deal with threats from email, websites, or on your computer's hard drive. It's important to keep your anti-virus up-to-date to identify the latest threats and to scan your computer often to check for infections. Also check software rating websites to determine which anti-virus programs won't slow down your computer's performance and have user interfaces that will work best for you.

Internet Security: Anti-Spyware Software

Anti-spyware software defends your computer from spyware programs which either piggyback other software and shareware you install or trick you into installing it yourself. Many of the top Internet security software manufacturers offer stand-alone spyware programs or bundle these with anti-virus or security suite programs. As with anti-virus software, it's vital to keep your anti-spyware software up-to-date and scan your computer often to detect and remove spyware.

Internet Security: Identity Theft Protection

A growing problem for Internet users is the incidence of identity theft online. For this reason, it's wise to consider purchasing a security program which includes identity theft protection. These programs authenticate shopping and banking websites so you'll know your personal information is safe, they store and manage your private login information, and block phishing websites which try to trick you by mimicking a genuine website so you'll supply personal information.