You have your choice of web browser to use while surfing the web and this is where you must start, at the beginning of your journey 'online'. So stop using the Internet Explorer as the first step and you have probably eliminated 50 percent of the problem in the first place, or prevented.. however if you have already been using the Internet Explorer, as pretty much everyone has no choice since it is the only browser that initially comes with the Windows operating system. Next, it would be keeping that browser up to date. Therefore when you get the prompt that there is an update available, it is usually a good idea to be getting that update. I recommend the AVANT BROWSER as an alternative to the Internet Explorer for many reasons, but the main one is that it emulates the Internet Explorer from other websites, therefore if tech support asks what browser you are using, and you tell them AVANT BROWSER and you get the typical "Oh you have to be using the Internet Explorer".. you don't, because the website thinks you already are! It also has very useful features like creating your own account which then stores your bookmarks, as well as 'autofill' information (with multiple levels of security). I always suggest having two browsers on your system (besides the Internet Explorer). Currently Google Chrome would rank to be the fastest (and just look at how clean it looks, without the ability to bog it down with the plug-ins) and Firefox currently being the second most widely used browser world-wide. The only "problem" with Firefox is that pretty much everything will require a plug-in, but from a user point of view, that could be a good thing. Lets just say you should have some computer chops if you want to seriously utilize all the available Firefox plug-ins, but if you do, you can find yourself loving all the flexibility and efficiencies of a productive surfing experience. Avant Browser however, is the only one to use if you hate having to re-enter your password information on the various websites because if you do use CCLEANER as I suggest you do (daily), then you will find yourself always entering username/password because CCLEANER wipes it clean but because you are logged in to your AVANT BROWSER account your auto fills are good to go. True, Firefox has the 'master password' and other plug ins available, you still need to initially log in to this so it is yet another step to take.
Next, you are dealing with the various web sites that want you to install the various 'plug-ins' in order to view the material. Here is where you will find, depending on the material of the website, in the case of an online banking institution, they are going to want to not only use the best possible method of security, but have a way to make sure the browser that is connected to (your account) is in fact, secure.In Canada, the CIBC website is promoting Trusteer Rapport. great, so how about installing yet another piece of software? No thanks... why? Here's why:
1: Unfortunately the staff are only told to tell people to go and install it because it will make things safer, without really knowing what is going on.
2: This is NOT required to log in to your bank account so just how is it that I am making anything safer? Think about it!
3: When you have anything that is common, that is what will be attacked first, in any security threat, because any time you have something in common with MORE COMPUTERS the better it will be.. (you must always think negatively when dealing with security matters)
4: The fact that you install something means this is something either the website does not automatically implement, which may even question the level of security that website is providing, but when they all guarantee you from fraud, just how 'secure' does your browser need to be? It seems to me it is your account information that you want protected! Any time you install a program in order to provide either a higher level of protection, or to 'optimize' the connection, you are adding another potential crash point or some may call it 'bottleneck' for disaster.
5: If you are using a good web browser, then this information should present itself within the browser, such as the level of security the web page has. Installing another program that simply adds a pretty icon telling you it is safe or not shouldn't be the way you feel secure. Read #2 again as to the reason they are wanting you to install this software in the first place.
What you can always do, once you have completed your banking, is run CCLEANER, for example, which will ensure all data traces have been removed, but keeping it simple and choosing any number of available browsers other than the Internet Explorer, and staying away from unnecessary plug-ins is sure to help. One interesting thing I quite often witness during a malware/spyware scan, is the amount of 'crap' that is actually found and then stored within a database for that program, which means you have nicely placed all the information you had hoped to protect, to one "Common" location for the malicious user to be able to use... one more reason to keep it simple.
