A lot of what I have to say here is mainly for the New Users who are on a Windows operating system and who are venturing into the Internet Bush for the first time , or just recently and have struck trouble , for reasons explained below , and if you are a New User to computing and the Internet , definitely , Please read on .
Or if you would prefer to go directly to the Survival Kit , the link is at the bottom of this page .
We are late getting this site up and running , about a month late to be precise , the main reason for that is we have been very busy dealing with Christmas presents , no , not ours , everyone else . It seems that a lot of people in our area received a new computer for Christmas and by the end of New Year all sorts of things were going wrong , from crashes , strange happenings , slow downs , and so on . Yes , all of these machines were connected to the Internet . The fixes were from simple , right up to total reinstall of all the software , including the operating system .
Reason one for all of this is that these people , most of them , are New Users , and new to the Internet . Reason two , none , some , or badly set up defences against all the froot loops out there on the Internet . Combine these two together , and you have disaster for the New User , and a field day for the froot loops out there . If you can imagine , from the best of people and things , right down to the worst of people and things , you WILL find them and it on the Internet . Every thing you can imagine , well almost , but then again , maybe every thing is out there , I never cease to be amazed at what you can find , good and bad .
You WILL need to arm , Armour and defend yourself against these predators . Think of it as though you are going to go out in the bush in Africa , you would not go there with just a fly swatter , if you do , you WILL be eaten . No you do not need to buy an Elephant gun , well not unless you really intend to actually go to Africa . But for the Internet , you will need weapons and armour , call it your survival kit . The basic things you will need are listed here .
These are the MINIMUM hardware devices and software applications, that are currently needed by any individual or company that connects a PC to the Internet:
- Hardware Firewall to make your systems invisible to port scans by hackers .
- Software firewall to prevent worms , from sneaking in or communicating out via your Internet connection .
- Antivirus program to detect and eliminate infected files and e-mail attachments .
- Antispam filter to prevent obviously bogus e-mail messages from reaching your Inbox and tempting you to click links to crooked Web sites and such .
- Anti-adware scanner to delete adware, spyware, and browser hijackers in your system and prevent them from getting control in the future .
- Update-management software to handle to days constant stream of patches and upgrades, whether the choice is Windows Update for individuals or a small-business or corporate package to handle 5 to 50,000 PC's .
- Despite the undeniable value of all of the above, a majority of PC users don't yet know what a firewall is, much less have one installed and properly configured .
That last statement is mostly what we found , after the Christmas presents were hooked up to the Internet , no not the toaster , the new computer . OK , a bit of Techno speak above there . I will endeavour to explain some of the strange words used , for you .
Lets go back to Africa . Have you got your Elephant gun , yes , good , oh , by the way , do you know how to use it , you don't , oh boy , I am going to get eaten here . It is no good having it , if you do not know how to use it . So in Africa , you either learn how to use it , or you hire a guide . The Internet , you hire a guide , a computer person , male or female , they can both shoot pretty good , some better than others . Unlike Africa where you have your guide and servants to protect you night and day , at home on the Internet your computer sharpshooters can not be with you every minute , well they can sort of , but that would cost you a small fortune . Speaking of which , the more you learn about these Internet guns and armour , the more you will save .
You SHOULD learn to handle these programs . It is a sad state of affairs when you can not just hook up to the Internet and go on your merry way , but life is not like that . It would be nice to be able to go to Africa and be able to pat the pretty Lion , but that would be Utopia , no such place , not on this planet that I know of . If you do , let me know and I will pack my bags . OK , enough of that , back to the hard stuff . Word by word explanation .
Hardware : This is the stuff that you can physically hold in your hands , keyboard , mouse , monitor , the computer box , all the things inside of your computer box , and all the things you can pick up in your hands . This why it is called Hardware , get it , hard Stuff .
Software : Now this is the stuff that you can not pick up in your hands , this is the stuff that is on the CD's , DVD's , Floppy Disks , Yes I know that you can hold the disks , OK , put it this way , they are the little containers that hold the programs , programs are actually the software , so in general terms the disks are referred to as software as well , it is a kind of a package deal . Other wise your programs would leak out between your fingers onto the floor and you would lose them .
Firewall : A wall of fire , well sort of . What is one of the most feared things by all animals , and humans alike , you guessed it , good old Fire , fire will keep wild animals at bay and protect you from them . Well a Firewall for the Internet does the same thing , the bigger and stronger the fire , the better the protection . There are two kinds of Firewall , Hardware , and Software . Hardware Firewalls come in several forms , but for you it will be in the form of a Router , more info on routers further on . Software Firewall , is as it says , software installed on your computer . Hardware Firewalls , are your first line of defence for incoming stuff , such as Port Scans and Hackers . Port Scans I will deal with , with the Routers , they are part of them .
Hackers : This term is badly used in the media , go HERE to see what real Hackers have to say , go down the page a little to ' What is a Hacker ? ' . Well these Crackers , in what ever form , not only adolescent boys , big boys and girls as well , are the bad guys , or girls , as the case may be , that are out there on the Internet , just waiting to take advantage of you , and worse . We will continue to use the term Hacker here , because it is what is generally understood .
Hackers can also be called Hijackers . Hackers try to Hack , as in break into , hack through your door or wall , into your computer to Hi-jack it , no they don't try to steal it , just to get it to do things for them as well as you , yes they can do this , if you let them . But they will steal your private information that you have on your computer , ANYTHING on there that interests them , and I mean ANYTHING . Yes they can do this very easily , with very little trouble to them , IF YOU LET THEM .
Think of yourself in an old time Castle , there are two main walls , outer and inner , some old time Castles had more than two , but just think of two walled castles for the time being , the outer wall is your Hardware Firewall , very thick , very high , and very strong , it must be able to withstand a frontal assault , time and again . Software Firewall , this is the inner wall , the second line of defence , this one will catch anything that some how manages to sneak over the back wall , while every body is busy at the front wall , sort of thing . You can see why the WALLS are so important , as in the Castle , no walls , a piece of cake to take your castle from you , and all of the nasty bad things that go along with it , it is the same with your computer , a piece of cake . This is why you must have FIREWALLS .
Phishers : Pronounced ' Fishers ' , they are fishing for your information .These baddies try to trick you into giving them your personal information to bank accounts etc. , through e-mail . Unlike Hackers who try to break into your computer and steal it , these people try to get you to give it to them . If you receive an e-mail from your bank , a company that you deal with , asking for personal information , account numbers , passwords , or what ever , or any information about you what so ever .
Treat these e-mails as Highly Dangerous . DO NOT answer the e-mail , DO NOT click on any of the links in the e-mail .
The e-mail will look very genuine and official , if you click on any of the links in the e-mail , you will be taken to a bogus site that looks very genuine and official . But it is truly a Bogus web site . Pick up the phone , and call the bank , company , or who ever , and ask why they are sending you an e-mail asking for this information , DO NOT answer anything through that e-mail . For more information on this subject , go HERE .
Router : This is one type of Hardware Firewall , but it can do other things as well . It can share your Internet connection if you have more than one computer in the house , office , shed , or where ever . This is where you need to talk to your Internet guide , you remember , don't you , you do , good . Buy the best that you can afford , remember , this is your first line of defence . Also , once it is setup properly , you will basically leave it alone .
Port Scans : imagine your Router is a big harbour , with lots and lots of docks for ships to tie up to , now stretch your imagination a little further , imagine if you could put a big invisible shell over your harbour , hiding your harbour from everybody , and only let in the ships that you want to let in , pretty sneaky hey , well you can do this with this little piece of equipment .
Now when the Pirates come sailing past looking for your port so that they can dock and let their pirates off and attack your City ( Computer ) , no harbour , no dock , no attack , simple . The Pirates sail away to find someone who does not have any cover . BUT , there is always one of those , your Router must be set up properly , get your Internet Guides to do it for you , if it is not set up properly , you might just as well leave your port open for the pirates , and the gate to your city wide open . The Router/Firewall is one very important piece of equipment , I can not stress this enough to you .
Antivirus Programs : You all know what a Virus is , right , when you get a virus , it makes you very sick . Well it is the same with your computer , if it gets a virus , then it gets very sick also . Antivirus Programs are the medicine to stop your computer from getting sick , the same as you take medicine when you are sick . Antivirus Programs will catch the Virus before it can infect your computer , and kill the Virus . Some are better than others , same as medicine . Virus's come in your e-mails , and programs that you download from the Internet . I run three different Antivirus Programs .Talk to your Internet Guide , and get Antivirus Programs if you do not have them .
Antispam Programs : Antispam , Imagine when you leave home in the morning to go to work , your letter box is empty , nothing in it , then when you return home it is full of advertising , junk mail , etc. . It is basically JUNK mail . They make all kinds of offers , pose as Charities , try to get you to click on links in the e-mail to take you to some site or other to try and sell you some thing , or worse , this stuff is JUNK , it is RUBBISH , it can choke your e-mail account , it is down right annoying . Same as every evening you come home , you have to clear your letter box , well the same applies here . Only on the Internet , it is much , much worse , and seems to be getting worse each year . IF YOU LET THEM . Again , talk to your Internet Guide , about good programs to stop this on your computer .
Anti-adware : Adware is a nasty one . These people will bombard you with Adds , you will be browsing the Internet , minding your own business , when from no where , up pops an add , you think , where in the world did that come from , it came from these people , a lot of New Users , think that this is normal behaviour for the Internet , IT IS NOT normal behaviour at all .
These people WILL try to take over your Browser , they will track where you go on the Internet , by doing this , they can then see what adds may interest you , so they will send these adds to you to try to tempt you to buy something from these places . It is also called Malware and Spyware , yes , they Spy on you , and what you do on the Internet . For example , if they can get control of your Browser , and you click on a site that you want to go to , what these people and programs will do , is to take you to a different site , but similar .
Why do this you ask , simple , because they make money from it . The main reason we have Spamware and Adware is because they make money out of it , a lot of money , if there was not a buck to be made from this , we would have very little of it .
Update-Management Software : What this means is , you must keep up to date with the latest ammunition for your weapons , your software , in other words , the Spam , Add and Virus nuts out there are continually making changes to the way they attack you . Out there , there are the Good Guys , and the Bad Guys , the Bad Guys are Virus , Spam and Adware etc. , they are attacking you in any way they can , the Good Guys are the ANTI Virus , Spam , Adware , Spyware etc. .
I think that I can safely say that all of the good Anti Programs have built in Automatic Up-Dates of their programs , so mostly this can be taken care of for you , but it must be done , one way or the other . Again , talk to your Internet Guide .
Quick Summary : If you have read this far and I have been a help in explaining some things to you , then I feel that I have achieved something here . But remember , this is only a general overall explanation in plain language . Each of these subjects could have pages of explanation devoted to them , so this is very basic . What I am saying here is that you must have these things as a MINIMUM REQUIREMENT for your Survival Kit , when you travel through the wilds of the Internet .
The next most important thing is that they must be SETUP PROPERLY . Talk to your computer person . Also , if you are not getting the right answers , or help , or explanations from your Guide , hire a different guide .If you do these things , then you just might have an enjoyable time out there in the wilds of the Internet . We will also have a New User section , with tips , helpful hints and so on , and much more , to try and help you to enjoy your computer and Internet .
If all of this sounds like I am scare mongering , no I am not , I am just giving you the facts of life on the Internet . What ever you do , do not think that this will not happen to me , it will , it is just a matter of time , not if , just when . Yes all of this will cost you some money , how much money , that is up to you , call it insurance . Think of it this way , if a hacker gets into your computer , and steals your bank account details and so on , how much money would you lose , how much trouble would that cause you . Pay the insurance premium , it is well worth it .
On to the
