The problem of online safety and security should be approached from many different angles. In order to achieve this goal one should find the answers to a series of questions. 

• How to make your own Internet experience safe and avoid numerous Internet scams and phishing sites?
• How to make sure that your credit card information and other sensitive data are not stolen?
• How to protect your online privacy?
• How to protect your computer?
  How to protect your website?
• How to make sure that your online business is secure from both legal and technical points of view?
• And most importantly, how to ensure the online safety of your family (especially your children)?

Those are just a few questions that you need to know the answer to, if you hope to achieve at least some level of security online or on the Internet.

We developed a line of products to address all those and many other Internet Security questions.

If you would like to know about the 10 Most dangerous Internet scams and personal online protection then click the link above to download our e-book (it's free).

To learn how to protect your family online, get our guide on Online Family Safety

To find more about different aspects of online business security and to master the science of guarding your online business, get our Comprehensive guide on Online Business Protection.

Just to give you an idea of the level of vulnerability of average Internet users, read a short introduction to Phishing Techniques Used to Steal Your Identity Online

Who hasn’t received an email directing them to visit a familiar website where they are being asked to update their personal or login information?  The website needs you to verify or update your passwords, credit card numbers, social security number, or even your bank account number.  You recognize the business name as one that you’ve conducted business with in the past.  So, you click on the convenient “click here to verify your identity” link and proceed to provide all the information they have requested.  Unfortunately, you find out much later that the website is bogus.  It was created with the sole intent to steal your personal information.  You, my friend, have just been “phished”.

Phishing (pronounced as “fishing”) is defined as the act of sending an email to a recipient falsely claiming to have an established, legitimate online business.  The intent of the phisher is to scam the recipient into surrendering their private information, and ultimately steal your identity.

It is not at easy as you think to spot an email phishing for information.  At first glance, the email may look like it is from a legitimate company. The "From" field of the e-mail may have the .com address of the company mentioned in the e-mail.  The clickable link even appears to take you to the company's website, when in fact, it is a fake website built to replicate the legitimate site.

Many of these people are professional criminals.  They have spent a lot of time in creating emails that look authentic.  Users need to review all emails requesting personal information carefully.  When reviewing your email remember that the "From Field" can be easily changed by the sender.  While it may look like it is coming from a .com you do business with, looks can be very deceiving.  Also keep in mind that the phisher will go all out in trying to make their email look as legitimate as possible.  They will even copy logos or images from the official site to use in their emails.  Finally, they like to include a clickable link that the recipient can follow to conveniently update their information.

A great way to check the legitimacy of the link is to point at the link with your mouse. Then, look in the bottom left hand screen of your computer.  The actual website address to which you are being directed will show up for you to view.  It is a very quick and easy way to check if you are being directed to a legitimate site.

Finally, follow the golden rule.  Never, ever, click the links within the text of the e-mail unless you know the sender, and always delete the e-mail immediately. Remember that legitimate companies will never ask you to click on a link to verify your account or credit card information. Instead they will ask you to go to their site and login using your credentials. Only within the membership area you can be asked to verify some data.

Once you have deleted the e-mail, empty the trash box in your e-mail accounts as well. If you are truly concerned that you are missing an important notice regarding one of your accounts, then type the full URL address of the website into your browser.  At least then you can be confident that you are, in fact, being directed to the true and legitimate website.