Broadband will make the Internet more fun to use and probably all your family will want to share the experience.
You need to be aware that there are some Internet security issues that arise from having a permanent, 'always-on' connection to the Internet. If you leave your computer unprotected, viruses or programs that affect how the computer operates, could exploit it.
If your children are accessing the Internet, you may have concerns about them visiting particular websites or engaging in online messaging and chat-rooms.
For more information have a look at the following factsheets, these were written for business use but do have some very useful information on security in general.
www.scottish-enterprise.com/publications/e-security.pdf
www.scottish-enterprise.com/publications/it28secu.pdf
FIREWALLS
Installing a firewall on any computer with a broadband connection is almost mandatory. A permanent, 'always-on' broadband connection means that your computer has a fixed identity on the Internet, which could be exploited by rogue software programs or viruses.
A firewall basically sits between your computer and the Internet and acts as a buffer, or safety zone, to protect your computer from any malicious activity. Firewalls can either be software programs or separate pieces of computer hardware. Most home users with a single computer will find that a software firewall is normally sufficient to meet their needs.
Without effective firewall protection, it is almost inevitable that your computer will become compromised at some point. A firewall is therefore a critical element of your home computing set-up. Although installing a firewall may be a steep learning curve, it is necessary to understand the importance of having firewall protection if you have a permanent, 'always-on' broadband Internet connection.
ANTI-VIRUS SOFTWARE
Installing and constantly updating virus protection software should be an essential part of your computer set-up. The 'always-on' nature of broadband connections means that software viruses can exploit vulnerable broadband connections. By following some basic guidelines, you can manage potential risks and reduce the vulnerability of your computer.
Most viruses are a nuisance, as in automatically sending a message with the virus attached to all e-mail recipients in your address book. Others can be malicious by corrupting or deleting computer files. You must install and constantly update virus protection software.
Having up-to-date virus protection software installed on your computer will also avoid any embarrassment caused by passing a computer virus onto friends or colleagues.
Be cautious with file downloads. Assume that all downloads and file attachments included in e-mail messages could be infected, and ensure that your virus protection software is set to scan all download and attachment files. You should also avoid downloading and running executable files (programs with a '.EXE' file extension) unless you are 100 percent confident of the source.
SOFTWARE PATCHES
With a permanent broadband Internet connection, it pays to keep updated with the latest security alerts, bug fixes and patches. Firewalls and up-to-date virus protection software can eliminate many of the security concerns associated with broadband connections. However, your computer's operating system and applications may contain some 'holes' or 'bugs' that a hacker can potentially exploit.
Software developers such as Microsoft only release products after they are happy they have been tested to the best of their abilities. Once the software is in use, however, 'holes', flaws or bugs are found that can be used by the determined-minded to gain access to computer systems.
You should constantly monitor your computer for any unexpected behaviour such as not loading some programs or rebooting for no apparent reason. This could be an early warning that your computer has been compromised. Prevention is better than cure. It is therefore of critical importance to be aware of new software patches and fixes for your operating system and software and ensure that new patches are instantly installed on your computers.
DATA BACKUPS
Even though you comply with all the recommended security actions, no computer system can ever be 100% secure. It is therefore really important that you are diligent in undertaking regular data backup procedures - especially if you've got important work or school files belonging to the children.
If for whatever reason you are faced with an emergency situation, you can feel comfortable in the knowledge that you will be able to restore all your key data and possibly only risk losing files that were amended in the last couple of days.
Ideally, you should backup all your data on a daily basis and store the backup media outwith your home in a secure environment. Even if you keep your data backup in your car, it is still more secure than leaving your data in the house where it could be lost or damaged in some way.
In addition to undertaking continual backup activities, you should also do test restores from your backup media to ensure that your backup procedures are correct and that the backup media is not corrupted in any way. For example, every month you could try to restore a couple of files selected at random to ensure that everything in your data backup procedure is working correctly.
ACCESS FOR CHILDREN
All parents are aware of the potential dangers that unrestricted access to the Internet could pose for children. It is important that your children understand the risks and are sensible in their use of accessing online content.
The extent to which you restrict any Internet access for your children will be based on your own view of their age and maturity. You should have firewall protection software installed on your computer anyway, and normally you can use this to block access to specific websites and types of online content. Virus protection software can also filter out potentially offensive e-mail messages - although neither program is foolproof.
It is always a good idea therefore to keep an eye on what children are doing online as they may not be aware that they are accessing content that you believe is not really appropriate for them.
Your children will appreciate the responsibility you have given them in having Internet access, so encourage them to talk to you about anything which they are concerned about when online.
For further advice on how your child can use the Internet safely go to www.thinkuknow.co.uk