Online Threat Protection

The purpose of this guide is to arm you, the home PC user, with all the information you need to protect yourself from online attacks.

As you read on, you will see that attacks on home PCs are not only increasing in frequency, they are also becoming ever more sophisticated and destructive - particularly with the advent of 'crimeware'.

However, while it is true that the risk to home PC users from online attacks has never been greater, it is also true that by following the simple precautions outlined in this guide, there is no reason why surfing the Internet should not continue to be an enjoyable, productive and worry-free experience.

What is the risk of having a PC at home?

Unfortunately, the moment a home PC connects to the Internet it becomes a potential target for cyber criminals. Rather like an unlocked home is an invitation to burglars, an unprotected PC extends a similar invitation to cyber criminals, the writers of 'malware' (an abbreviation of malicious software).

Traditional viruses and worms versus contemporary crimeware

In the past, PCs were mainly under threat from viruses and worms. These programs are purpose-built to spread and some of them cause damage to files and PCs. Until a few years ago malware could be described as 'cyber vandalism': an anti-social form of self-expression, written for the challenge, to cause irritation or, at worst, designed to damage data on your computer.

Today, the greatest threat to PC users comes from crimeware. Quite simply, crimeware is malicious code that is distributed for the ultimate purpose of making money illegally. Crimeware is a general term used to highlight the purpose of malicious code today and may take the form of viruses, worms, Trojans or other malicious programs.

Why crimeware is becoming more prevalent

Crimeware has largely replaced the traditional threat from viruses and worms because the criminal underground has realised the potential for making money from malicious code in a 'wired' world.

What happens when a PC is infected?

Different malware affects PCs in different ways. It's software and so it can potentially do anything that software can be programmed to do.

A virus or worm may result in:

• Data loss - to documents, photographs, music files, etc.
• Emotional loss - resulting from damage or loss of personal documents, emails, etc.

Crimeware is likely to cause:

• Financial loss - theft of personal data leading to money siphoned from bank accounts.