Unfortunately far too often, small businesses have very relaxed rules about internet usage. Larger companies have more access to IT staff who can advise them as to what measures to take to prevent PCs from being compromised. Good practices are critical to protecting your company’s computers.

Did you know that a PC with no protection (firewall or virus scan) on a broadband connection will probably be compromised within a matter of minutes? Did you know that there are some browsers which are more secure than others? Parasitic programs are simply circulating around the internet waiting for a chance to enter an unprotected PC.

Browser Protection: Mozilla Vs Internet Explorer
While Internet Explorer is arguably the easiest browser to use – your best bet is Mozilla or Opera. Mozilla is the more convenient of the two. These browsers are least susceptible to most of the viruses, spy ware, and malware that reside on many sites. It is common knowledge that Mozilla’s Firefox is simply the safer browser for anyone to use. Unfortunately Internet Explorer is the more popular browser and almost every website is optimized for Internet Explorer. However “ with total market saturation come opportunists: criminal hackers who use Microsoft vulnerabilities to take control of your operating system, steal your identity, or spread spam.” Zdnet
Make sure that you set the appropriate settings for the security on the browser. Ensure that you keep Automatic Updates (if you are a Windows User) up and running. Make sure that you install a firewall as well. Anti-Virus software will also help you with protecting your PC against viruses. All of these will help you secure your browsing experience.

Benefits to using Mozilla
Here are a few key features about Mozilla :
Automatic Pop-Up blocking built into the browser
It is totally free open source
You can prevent scripts from doing annoying things directly in the settings of the browser
Block images from certain sites and from third-party sites – This protects you from images that may contain malicious things.

Healthy Browsing Practices
While many of these suggestions seem common nature you would be amazed to see how many people don’t practice them:

• Don’t open suspicious emails

• Never open a suspicious attachment

• If a prompt pops up on a page and it asks you to agree to something you don’t understand – close the page!

• Use Mozilla or Opera when you are surfing through possibly unsafe zones

• Be wary of freebie sites – many of them house viruses. Use a more secure browser when searching through those areas.

• Pay attention when pop-ups appear. They can be a sign of infection

• Beware of Lava Soft’s Ad-aware. This program has been exposed to be spy ware!

• Turn your PC off when you aren’t using it

• Never leave your Main Drive on your pc on as a share

Bottom line – make sure that your employees know about safe browsing practices. Also make sure that you keep your computers up to date, your virus scans up to date and that you use a secure browser.