Protecting yourself from web attacks

Nov 6, 2011, 2:06 GMT

Berlin - Until now there have been no hints that the new super trojan virus Duqu will also be targeting private users, but computer users should not forget that there are thousands more - maybe less perfect but still very dangerous - viruses out there on the web.

The German Federal Criminal Police Office (BKA) and the IT association Bitkom have come up with some basic rules for more security on the internet:

Virus protection: There are still many internet users without protection against computer viruses. That is an open invitation for online criminals to get into your computer. The most important rule is that an anti-virus program must be installed before the first connection to the internet. Best would be a firewall as well - sort of a virtual protective wall keeping attackers out. The security software must be regularly updated since new malware continually hits the internet.

Emails: Open emails only from senders you trust or know. Malware often is hidden in graphics or email attachments. Therefore you should never open suspicious files. Also a risk is internet links in emails as they can lead to websites with viruses on them. One thing internet users should always remember in dealing with emails is that banks never ask customers for private information by email. Such emails are always fakes.

Software: Users should be aware of which software or add-on programs (plug-ins) they install. A danger is malware, which is hidden in free downloads or pirated copies from dubious providers. It's healthy to be a bit distrustful. If you have doubts about a software, don't download or install it.

Passwords: As much as possible, internet users should not utilize the same password for various services. The longer the password, the more difficult it is to hack. It should be at least eight characters long and consist of a random mix of upper and lower case letters, numbers and special characters.