No doubt you’ve already heard about viruses on the Internet. One of the worst is the so-called Trojan Horse (e.g., BackOrifice). This kind of virus invades your computer and allows other people take remote control over it from a distance. This type of risk isn’t confined to Internet banking, it affects all types of electronic banking and insurance and any application of any kind on your computer, even if you don’t use it to communicate via the Internet.
Prevention is better than cure! Install an anti-virus program and don’t forget to download new updates at regular intervals. Make sure that the virus scanner is continually active whenever you use your computer.
Contact your software supplier for advice if you do not have access to an up-to-date virus scanner.
Occasionally, when you are installing software or simply even surfing the Internet, small files with annoying properties will be installed on your computer without you knowing. This usually happens if you download (free) software from the Internet or visit sites whose content may be considered ‘unsuitable’.
Adware enables its makers to provide you with unsolicited - annoying - advertisements. On the face of it, this may not seem dangerous, but Spyware is occasionally installed along with the Adware.
And Spyware is more malicious in that it monitors all the sites you visit, the software you use, the number of e-mails you receive, and so on. This information is then sent to the makers of the free software, who are usually suppliers selling their products over the Internet. It is not a pleasant thought knowing that people are using your details for analysis and devising sales strategies.
Not only do these files leave you exposed to security risks, but they also affect the performance of your computer, causing some programs to slow down or crash completely. And KBC-Online can also be seriously disrupted.
Contact your software supplier if you would like help on how to remove Spyware and Adware from your computer system.