About six or seven years ago, a brief surf through internet pornography pages would leave a computer infested with viruses and spyware. Internet porn became synonymous with computer viruses, and anyone infected could easily be suspected of viewing XXX content. But today, malicious software, or malware has pervaded every corner of the internet; and simply being connected to it opens up your computer to a host of nefarious threats.

As the list of malicious software types grows each year, the average user gets increasingly fearful about their vulnerabilities while web surfing. Viruses, worms, trojans, backdoors, spyware, rootkits, and hybrid or “blended” threats comprise the ever-growing list.

One of the most popular bits of malicious software out there is “rogue security software.” These rogue bits of code masquerade themselves as legitimate programs, when they themselves are the threat. They either coax the user into installing them through window clicks, or they exploit security holes in web browsers, in order to gain entry into a target system. In a dizzying blur of pop-ups, rogue security applications usually scare the user by displaying a fake scan complete with infection alerts, in the meantime disabling functions like web surfing or resident antivirus programs.

The goal of a rogue antivirus program is often to direct you to a web page that presents an offer to fix the hoaxed infections with the purchase of their product. With most avenues to acquire an alternate solution disabled, many naïve users fall for the ploy in a desperate attempt to restore control of their system. Many tens of thousands of dollars have been gleaned from unsuspecting computer users in recent years through use of these methods.

The keys to staying protected from rogue security and other malicious software are:

#1: Keep your operating system and web browser(s) updated with the latest patches and fixes.

#2: Have a real-time antivirus software suite running and updated; and also be able to discern the difference between messages from your installed anti-virus program and any rogue programs.

#3: If a malicious program still manages to grab hold, close all browser windows and immediately initiate a scan of your hard drive for infections, before your defenses are disabled.

Once an infection is established, it may take a professional using more advanced techniques to cleanse your system and restore full functionality.

The internet world is much like the real world. If you educate yourself, take some precautions, stay observant, and have a plan for the worst case, then you will do fine. It is mostly going out there in an unprepared and haphazard fashion that gets you into hot water.

Safe surfing.