The Internet, a network of interconnected computer networks, provides a wealth of information for almost every purpose imaginable. Students can access relevant information about their courses, children can watch cartoons, businesses can conduct e-commerce transactions, and independent artists can promote their latest album. The multimedia aspect has attracted millions of visitors around the world to download the latest songs, albums, movies, ringtones, ebooks, video games, software and more. The temptation overwhelms most people considering that most of these items are available at the click of a mouse. Criminals understand the enticing effect created by these multimedia treasures, which probably makes their mouths water at the endless possibilities for stealing financial information and personal identification documents. Internet surfers must take appropriate measures to safeguard their computers from these anonymous thieves. Internet users can reclaim their vanguard position against these shadow threats with a bit of technical expertise, a small collection of appropriate software and hardware, as well as the ability to exercise common sense. Viruses and worms Viruses and worms used to scare Internet users in recent decades; however, emerging threats continue to evolve with each technological advancement. Spyware, spam, and phishing scams have exploded in today's market. Viruses and worms still represent a real threat in cyberspace, which can completely disrupt your computer usage, depending on the infection. A virus is a small computer program that infects and replicates existing code. A complex virus can delete or damage existing files, change your computer's settings, and cause it to crash. On the other…half of the sheet…with Peer-to-Peer File Sharing – A resourceful website that provides helpful tips and information when using P2P file sharing software. Federation Against Software Theft: An anti-piracy organization initiative aimed at protecting members from Internet piracy. Federation Against Copyright Theft: A UK-based anti-piracy organization with the aim of reducing counterfeiting, copyright and trademark infringement. International Federation of the Phonographic Industry: An international anti-piracy organization aimed to protect the rights of recording companies registered under their membership. Georgetown University: Where to Legally Download Music, Movies, and Software?: A resourceful article that provides credible and reliable links to legal downloading platforms. University of South Florida; Download Legally: A list of resources for legally downloading media files.
tags