Chapter 19. Be Safe Out There
In This Chapter
Understanding the computer nasties
Fighting pop-up windows
Dealing with fake Web pages
Using a firewall
Stopping spyware
Inoculating against viruses
Coping with the UAC warnings
Many PC users harbor fears. There is the fear that the computer will get angry with you. There is the fear that you will suddenly, unpredictably, and irrevocably lose all your stuff. Then there is the fear that the bad guys are lurking around every corner on the Internet, waiting to steal from you. It makes you wonder why anyone ever bothers to turn on the computer.
The PC will never be angry with you. You might lose your stuff, but it's possible to get that stuff back. That last fear, though, is real: The bad guys are out there. You can do a lot to help fend off their attacks, starting by reading the good information in this chapter.
To help save your stuff, see Chapter 22 for information on computer backup.
For more information on PC security, refer to my books Troubleshooting Your PC For Dummies and its larger, more encompassing big brother, Troubleshooting & Maintaining Your PC All-In-One For Dummies (both from Wiley Publishing, Inc.).
Fight the Bad Guys
The PC bad guys have a host of names as rich and colorful as any comic book (see the following sidebar, "PC super-villain roundup"). Knowing the names is important only when you also know the names of the superheroes who help you thwart the plans of the evil ones. Windows has many such superheroes:
- Internet Explorer:
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