internet::short survival's guide

I'd like to give you some advices to live internet in a better, and more secure, way. The net is wide, great and wonderful, but it's dangerous. I won't give you moral or ethic suggestions, just some tech notes. If you think it's worth the effort, follow them. If not, I think you'll have more troubles than joy in the future!

Here is a list of the good rules for living a sane internet.

  1. Bill Gates DID NOT invent internet. When he started selling Windows 95, it had no internet support at all and the TCP/IP protocol, the backbone of internet, was just optional.
  2. If you can, forget Microsoft Windows (whatever version you have) and switch to Linux. If you have an Apple Macintosh, I'd suggest better OS X then any other 9 or below.
    Linux (or MacOS X or any UNIX system) are far safer than Microsoft products. They are really protected against viruses without installing any expensive and resource hungry AntiVirus software.
  3. If you really can't use other than Windows (which is a bad thing!), then DON'T use MS Internet Explorer or MS Outlook [Express or not]. They are the easiest way for viruses and trojans to your computer. Use instead Mozilla Firefox for browsing the net and Mozilla Thunderbird for your email.
    Both are free software developed by a community of programmers and users. Both of them are completely standard compliant.
  4. If you use Windows (which is a bad thing!), install a good antivirus software. Not always a very expensive one is the best solution. There is a really good german one, called simply AntiVir, that can be downloaded and updated for free for personal use.
    Update the virus bases as much often as you can, since virus writers are really prolific! Every day a new virus tries to exploit an operating system error or weakness.
  5. If you use Windows (which is a bad thing!), use a good firewall (in WinXP DON'T use the built-in crap!). I tried ZoneLabs ZoneAlarm. There is a version free for personal use and a "Pro" one for some bucks. It's really easy to use and protects you against people looking for a way of penetrating you computer.
  6. If you use Windows (which is a bad thing!), periodically check your system for spywares and malwares, which are malicious softwares, not always recognized as viruses, that can send your personal information over the net. To do this ckeck, get softwares like SpyBot.
  7. Never give your personal data, email address or credit card number to a non proven site. Never. Buy by credit card ONLY and ONLY IF you know the site is a serious one.
  8. If you get SPAM (unsolicited mail), never reply to it, not even if it claims that if you don't want any more mail you just have to write an email in response. Doing so, they will just be sure that they are actually sending junk mail to a working address, and you'll get even more of it!
  9. Get confident with the Netiquette, a serie of rules and advices to be polite on the net.