What are Web threats? Today’s threat landscape is quite different from the one where young hackers unleashed viruses and worms just because they could. Today’s web threats are designed by professional cybercriminals with a host of tools at their disposal like bots, Trojans and data stealing malware. Their goal is to defraud you by secretly stealing credit card numbers, social security numbers and other personal information stored on your PC.

Why should you care?

Your PC could be compromised by malware, spyware and bots, and your identity and personal information could be at risk.

How to Protect Yourself

• Apply the latest security updates and patches to your software programs and operating systems and enable automatic updates where possible. Since cybercriminals typically take advantage of flaws in software to plant malware on your PC, keeping your software current will minimize your exposure to vulnerabilities

• Install an Internet security suite like Trend Micro™ Internet Security that includes spam filtering and blocking as well as anti-malware and anti-spyware capabilities. Keep security software up-to-date.
• Use a free tool, such as RUBotted or Web Protection Add-On, which can alert you to bot infiltration and help protect you from web threats.

• Use a combination of letters, numbers and symbols and avoid using your login name and your first and last names.
• Avoid using the same password for all your login needs. Don’t use the same password for your banking site that you use for your social networking sites.
• Change your password every few months.

• Beware of unexpected or strange-looking emails and instant messages (IMs) regardless of sender. Never click on links in these emails and IMs. Never provide personal information in your email or IM responses.
• Beware of web pages requiring software installation. Scan programs before executing. Always read the end user license agreement and cancel if you notice other programs being downloaded in conjunction with the desired program.
• When shopping, banking or making other transactions online, make sure the website address contains an “S”: https://www.bank.com. You should also see a lock icon in the lower right area of your web browser.