Many people will have bought new computers or upgraded their existing ones over Christmas and the New Year and Dyfed Powys Police offer the following advice in order to help prevent you from becoming a victim of crime. Internet users should be particularly vigilant when using their credit or debit cards on line. You should research companies before purchasing. Search for them on the Internet, view customer comments and, if the price is too good to be true, ask yourself if you are prepared to take the risk of non delivery. Run a system scan for viruses and spyware before purchasing goods over the internet. If the virus protection is not updated at least weekly, it is possible that the system could be harbouring programs that can be automatically logging bank account details and card numbers and transmitting them to a third party. You can greatly reduce the risk of being a victim of computer crime by updating your computer with an anti-spyware program. Spyware monitors user activity, views preferences and assists an attack by sending information about your likes and dislikes to the potential fraudster. Anti spyware must be run weekly to be effective, along with any antivirus program. Subscribing to automatic live updates allows anti-virus and anti-spyware software to be updated in the background when you connect to the internet. Look carefully at the messages your computer gives you and only download files if you know what they are. Never give away passwords in response to an email. If in doubt, contact the company concerned and check that the email was from them, even if it looks professional and contains the right logo. Be aware that files ending in .exe and .zip can potentially harm your system, so be sure they are needed before opening them or accepting them in an email. Viruses not only affect your system, but also allow third parties to use your computer remotely without your knowledge. They can use your internet connection and send out emails as if they are from you. Your telephone provider will charge you for this hidden usage. If unsure about how to secure your system, contact your local computer shop and ask for advice. It could be money well spent. If you have been a victim of Internet crime, contact your local Police Station on 0845 330 2000.
