I wanted to share this with you guys, it was posted by a guy on my forum and I think is very important especially since we are all using computers and the internet. If you have cable or DSL internet service, please read this entire page Let me first say that I'm not trying to sell anything on this page. I'm not profiting in any way and I'm not trying to get you to buy any software (most of the software I recommend here is free for personal use). Protect Your Computer and Your Personal Information from Theft As most computer users know, it's very difficult to surf the web without annoying pop-ups or other distractions. This page is to help you have a better experience on the net and to help keep your computer healthy. Some of the malicious software (malware) can actually cost you money. Automated dialers can call chat lines without your knowledge. If you use a computer that is in any way connected to the internet or other computers, you are at risk of identity theft, theft of passwords, loss of important files and spying. Different Types of Malware There are many different types of malicious software. The following are the most common types: Virus: Many people refer to all types of malware as viruses. To be more precise, viruses are malicious code that are designed to do damage. Some delete or corrupt files. These are the most damaging type of infection because you will, many times, lose important information. Macro Virus: If you've used spreadsheets or software like Word, you know that there are 'macros' that allow you to do common, repetitive tasks more easily. While these tools may be helpful, they are also a danger to your computer. If you open an infected document into a program that supports macros, the macro could perform some malicious task and cause you grief. If you don't know who sent you the document, don't open it. Worm: A worm is a self replicating piece of malware that copies itself onto as many computers as possible. This type of software can bog down networks but usually doesn't purposely damage or delete files. Trojan: Trojans are malware the arrive within a seemingly benign piece of software or code. The malicious code can come in as a screensaver or even as an image file