Tips for protecting your computer and personal information
The following tips list some simple precautions you can take to minimise the chances of falling victim of online crime:

1. Install anti-virus and other security software, such as anti-spyware and anti-spam software.
   
1. Use and update this software regularly; use an auto-update facility if this is available. You can set most virus software to scan your computer at set regular intervals.
   
2. Regularly download and install the latest security patches for your computer software, including your web-browser. Use automatic software security updates where possible.
   
3. Use a firewall and make sure it is turned on. Firewalls help prevent unauthorised access to and communications from, your computer.
   
4. Surf securely and anonymously on the web by using the World's Most Secure Flash Drive.
   
5. Delete suspect emails immediately - do not open these emails. If you do accidently open an email and it is any way suspect:
1. Do not click on any links in the email - visiting websites through clicking on links in suspect emails may result in malware (malicious software), such as a ?Trojan', being downloaded to your computer.
2. Only open an attachment to an email where the sender and the contents of the attachment are known to you.
   
6. If an attachment needs to be opened, it should be checked by anti-virus software before opening. 
   
7. Do not download files or applications from suspect websites - the file or application could be malware. Sometimes the malware may even be falsely represented as e-security software designed to protect you. 
   
8. Use long and random passwords for any application that provides access to your personal identity information, including logging onto your computer. Refer to Password Management.
   
9. Use a limited permission account for browsing the web, creating documents, reading email and playing games. If your operating system allows you to create a limited permission account, this can prevent malicious code from being installed onto your computer. A ?limited permission' account is an account that does not have ?Administrator' status.

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