Internet Security That Grandma Can Understand

I never really understood the full depth of confusion concerning computer information for novice users. That was until my mother made a most appropriate analogy. While she is in fact a very bright, successful, career woman, she gets stressed out when tech people try to tell her what to do for internet security. It's like this she says, "I can crochet and you know computers. If I try to explain to you the stitches I make, you won't get it any more than I understand what you are talking about." And it's true -- when she talks crochet it sounds like Chinese to me.

With that in mind, listed below are some must have internet security measures to protect your new computer and data, with explanations that have been distilled to common English, as much as possible.

Anti-Virus Software -- Your anti-virus protection is only as good as it is current and comprehensive. Though favorites vary, Norton, McAfee and Trend Micro provide the most popular internet security products. The easiest of the three to use is Trend, followed by McAfee.

In the Trend anti-virus product there are less configurations and pop-up notices (that users often don’t understand) to contend with. Trend is also less of a memory hog, slowing your computer, than its competitors. The other internet security products are excellent, but if they aren’t used correctly they won’t be as effective. Whichever anti-virus software you use, make sure you enable “auto-updates” for the best protection.

Anti-Malware Software - Spyware and other computer nasties (password stealers, keystroke loggers etc.) are collectively known as malware (malicious software). You need protection from all forms of malware, not just spyware, hence the distinction. But the terms spyware and malware are used interchangeably here. -- (The recommended products cover all malware.) Spyware is actually a much bigger threat than viruses are and can cause as much or more damage.