Broadband brings with it a whole new vocabulary and often it can be quite confusing trying to understand the technical terms especially when it relates to your security.
The internet is a two way flow of information and data and this means that you could be susceptible to viruses and people trying access your personal information on your home PC.

Broadband which is always-on-connection means that people could access your information even when you’re not surfing the web.

Whilst you are connected your PC is like an open door to and from the internet. Some of the terms are.

Cookies

Cookies are designed to put a reminder on your computer so that when you revisit a website it can “remember” you making it quicker to access that site every time you visit. Usually they are harmless and are mostly used by websites that you visit frequently which automatically remember your password such as your online e-mail account.

Firewall

A firewall works as a barrier between your computer and the Internet. The firewall ensures that only authorized users are allowed to access the one network from the other. Generally on a home PC a firewall will be software running on a computer, or it can be a standalone hardware device.

A general term for computer criminals that enter computers and steal and change information or plant viruses in the data.

Phishing

Phishing refers to email scams that aim at identity theft. Identity thieves send fake emails with return addresses, links, and branding. These emails are very similar to those emails that are sent by banks, credit card companies, etc. A user visiting one of these sites could very easily believe that it was a genuine site and input or reveal personal details. These details could then be used for fraudulent activities.

Spam

Spam is the term widely used for unsolicited e-mail and is also referred to as junk mail.  Spam is usually sent indiscriminately to hundreds or even hundreds of thousands of inbox’s simultaneously.  Spam can fill up your inbox with nuisance advertisements or scams.  If you receive an email that you believe may be Spam or even an email where you don’t recognize the sender you should be particularly wary of opening it, as it may contain offensive content and/or viruses that could damage your computer.

Spyware

Software that sends information about your Web surfing habits to its Web site. Spyware is often installed without the user’s knowledge or explicit permission in combination with a free download. It may also know what personal information you have entered.

Trojan Horses

A Trojan or Trojan horse is a program which carries out an unauthorized function while hidden inside an authorized program. It is designed to do something other than what it claims to, and frequently is destructive in its actions.

Viruses

A dangerous computer program with the characteristic feature of being able to generate copies of itself, and thereby spread throughout the computer. Additionally, most computer viruses have a destructive element that is activated under certain conditions such as a date occurring or a serious of keystrokes being entered.

>Wireless Broadband SecurityWith the increase of Wireless Broadband, many users have opened up a new access avenue to Hackers. If your wireless network is not ‘secure’, you may be exposed to people hacking in and stealing details from your personal computer. However simply by setting up a password for your network then this is not a problem you are likely to face. Broadband and Wireless Router providers will provide instructions for setting up your wireless network properly.

How can I defend myself?

There are lots of well-known software packages on the market which are constantly being updated to combat new problems and viruses. The most popular and comprehensive are ones which include features such as anti-virus, anti-spyware and firewall. When you set up your wireless network with your wireless router and software, follow the instructions for setting it up correctly.
Most new computers now come with pre-installed software which you can use. If not, your ISP might provide a security package as part of your contract or for an additional fee.