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Don't be an online fraud victim

Martin Lewis
22/ 7/2008

VIRUSES don't just wreak havoc with your PC, but can cost you serious cash.

If you own a computer but don't have up-to-date anti-virus software and other online security, such as a firewall and anti-spyware, you need to be very careful.

Because, if someone defrauds you online, you could still be held liable. This is quite shocking, especially when you consider a whole community of cyber-criminals out there is using hi-tech techniques to cheat us out of our hard-earned savings.

But don't worry, I'm going to help ensure you don't become their next victim.

Now, before I get into the nitty-gritty, let me explain why protecting yourself is so important. Most people presume their bank will cover any debts brought about by online fraud. But relatively new rules in the banking code suggest this may no longer be a foregone conclusion.

In the code, which most banks subscribe to, it says consumers "should use up-to-date anti-virus software, anti-spyware and a firewall" to protect themselves from the threat of computer hackers.

It then goes on to say that if consumers "act without reasonable care and this causes losses, they may be responsible for them".

Warning

Now, while I haven't heard of anyone being made liable for online fraud, this should act as a stark warning to all computer users, to make sure they sort their security kit out.

The first step should be to download effective anti-virus software. It protects computers from the eloquently sounding trojans, worms, viruses and other virtual nasties.

It's vitally important to update anti-virus software regularly and some of the bigger brands charge up to £50 a year for this. However, there are two very good anti-virus programmes out there that don't cost a penny.

The first is Grisoft's AVG. The software house offers a comprehensive free version of its virus protection to home computer users as a means of promoting its professional service. They make their money by selling it to small businesses. It's reasonably thorough, quite unobtrusive, doesn't use too many resources and will regularly auto-update.

Be warned, though, that Grisoft doesn't offer any real technical support with the free version. Having said that, it's a pretty decent bet for most people.There is also a good alternative called Avast. Again, this is free for non-commercial users and provides regular updates as well as proper technical support via email or phone.

The only downside is you have to re-register with the software company each year, though that shouldn't be too much of a hassle.

The next thing you need is what's called a firewall. Now, if anti-virus software is the border patrol checking to see what's allowed in to your PC, a firewall is the border fence stopping all the bad stuff coming in illegitimately. Most people who connect to the internet these days do so via a router (as opposed to an old-style telephone modem) and these tend to have some level of built-in firewall protection.

Also, some operating systems, such as Windows XP and Vista, have incorporated a firewall which is perfectly sufficient for most home computer users.

One word of warning is that it's important to check it's switched on and equally important to know how to switch it off, as occasionally it will block files you actually want to download.

But if you want more comprehensive protection, perhaps you are having problems with the Windows firewall, or just want more flexibility, there are a number of alternative free firewall programmes out there, too. These include products from Sunbelt, Comodo and ZoneAlarm.

One final security product definitely worth having is anti-spyware software. Spyware is a particularly sinister type of programme which covertly grabs information from your PC and sends it back to its leader, often a criminal, out in cyber-space.

Devious

This could be as devious as tracking your keystrokes as you type in a bank password. That's why downloading anti-spyware is just as important as anti-virus software.

It's worth noting there are some legitimate spyware programmes, such as Google Desktop, but generally most spyware is to be avoided. If you've got a copy of Windows XP, Microsoft Windows Defender is an effective anti-spyware tool and is free to download.

But also worth considering is EMSI Software's award-winning A-squared free edition. This has an array of useful functions and is user-friendly with daily auto-updates.

There are many other anti-spyware programmes out there but always be careful that you download them from a legitimate source. Because, sadly, some spyware problems are actually caused by rogue versions of anti-spyware programmes which people have unsuspectingly downloaded.

There is a host of other top tips to keep your computer safe. First of all, always ensure it's regularly updated. If you use Microsoft Windows it offers in-built updates which you can download online. For novice users it's best to have these set on automatically update.

Also, always remember to turn your computer off, or at least disconnect it from the internet, when you're not using it. Because if it's not connected, nothing nasty can happen. Remember, too, not to open unknown email attachments. Most web crimes are committed via email so be on guard when checking yours. If you don't know who an email is from and it has an attachment, delete it.

Finally, and I can't stress this enough, use different passwords for different websites. If your memory isn't what it used to be, try using one generic password but keep a different ending, perhaps a few digits or letters, for each different site.

For forum or chat-site users, be especially careful not to use the password you would for financial products because some of these are set up simply to misappropriate passwords.

You can find out more at moneysavingexpert.com/

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