How To Surf 8

How To Surf The Internet Safely

By Pedro da Palma Rosa, Managing Director, Bullseye Small Business





Using services available over the internet means that over time you and your staff will accumulate vast numbers of cookies and ‘temporary’ internet files and will be exposed to a range of nasties including all sorts of malware that will reduce the speed of your business’s computers, or bring them to a halt altogether.

Here’s some easy-to-follow tips that you can do yourself to keep your business’s computers safe while web surfing, while also preserving your computer’s speed.



Enable windows updates

Don’t be tempted to put off updating your computer with the latest security updates (aka ‘patches’), thinking it will take too much time, or cause unwanted changes to your configuration. It’s simply not worth the risk. When your PC is equipped with the most recent updates from Windows it is much less likely to suffer security breaches. The best way to ensure that you have the latest security updates is to enable automatic Windows updates on your computer using the ‘Automatic Update’ utility.



Delete temporary internet files

When you visit a website your browser adds a file to the computer’s hard disk in which it stores data about every page or URL address you view there. The reasoning is that the next time you visit the same website the browser will take the data from the ‘Temporary Internet File’ first, while only content added to the page since your last visit needs to be downloaded. This allows the page to display quickly in the browser instead of having to wait for a response from the website's server all over again. And if your internet connection is unavailable you can still view the cached (stored) version of the webpage while offline.

However, the name ‘Temporary Internet File’ is actually a bit misleading in that the files are not really temporary. They will stay on your hard drive until you purge them and the build-up of data in the Temporary Internet File cache will eventually slow the processor down (by the way, there is a privacy issue also – anyone who checks the cache can see which websites you have visited). Eventually, the cache can take up a significant proportion of hard disk space that would otherwise be free for programs and data.

Browsers that use a Temporary Internet File cache also have methods for deleting these files using the Internet Options utility. Don’t rely on running the Disk Cleanup tool for this job – it will delete only files, not cookies or shortcuts in the cache.



Change the browser history options

The browser maintains a running list of the links to websites you have visited; this is its ‘History’ function. One way to save on memory is to change how many days the computer saves this record of visited webpages. By saving these pages for a smaller number of days you can clear out more of your PC's memory.



Protect against malware

Malware (derived from ‘malicious software’) is the coverall term for all the nasties that exist in the world of cyberspace – viruses, Trojans, some types of adware, spyware et al. Their intent may range from being simply annoying (shoving an ad in your face) to being totally malicious (stealing your credit card details and other forms of identity theft). Regardless of intent, the malicious files and registry entries they introduce will eventually erode the computer’s performance if not prevent it functioning altogether.

Installing and keeping up to date on your anti-virus/anti-spyware utility is one of the most important things you can do to extend your computer’s life and safeguard its performance.You can purchase software such as McAfee, Norton AntiVirus or Spyware Doctor, or free software such as Spybot - Search and Destroy. Set it up to scan automatically at least once a week but preferably daily.



Delete useless cookies (DIY safe)

Cookies are pieces of text that the web server at the site you are visiting sends back to your computer and these then get stored on your hard drive. The next time you go to the same website, your browser will send the cookie to its web server. By and large cookies serve a legitimate purpose (saving login information to cut down on what you have to enter, remembering your name and preferences to provide a more personal experience at the site for instance) and do not invade privacy, pose a threat to the security of information or to the functioning of your computer.

Nevertheless, they add up and should be managed periodically. Get in the habit of reviewing the cookies accumulating in the browser and manage them by way of deleting unnecessary ones (the vast majority), or try different browser privacy settings to prevent your browser accepting them in the first place. Your browser will have a tool for doing a universal cookie delete but just remember that this will remove the useful ones along with the unnecessary. They can be checked individually by going to the Cookies folder and deleting particular ones – not too time consuming if done regularly.







About Pedro da Palma Rosa

Pedro has over 13 years experience in servicing and providing Information Technology solutions into the SME sector. He has made a significant mark in the desktop/server applications area, delivering Information Technology solutions locally, regionally and globally.

Working at MAUS Business Systems, CCH Small Business, RAN ONE Global (Americas, Europe and Asia Pacific) and now Bullseye (Asia Pacific), Pedro actively pursues a career focus in the IT / SME market sector, and has accumulated a formidable expertise in the management of software development, network administration, website development, online marketing, and business management projects. In that time he has been involved in the development of over 15 different software titles used by over 40,000 SMEs throughout Australia.

Instrumental in Bullseye group’s RAN ONE business, Pedro contributes to the design and development of project planning, HR profiling, performance review, OH&S, KPI monitoring, quality assurance and customer relationship management solutions. In other arenas he drives the web development team for SME online business solutions.

Pedro is a rare IT executive. Having been involved in multiple business audits, mergers, establishing an off-shore development centre and integration of acquisitions into existing businesses, and combined this with personal experience in the management of a highly successful inner city retail sector business, Pedro has delivered presentations on IT issues to SME business workshops, and is acutely aware of the financial, change management and people management aspects of a successful growing business.