The World Wide Web can trap you in a few different ways, but one of the most damaging is identity fraud.  There are all sorts of viruses and Trojan horse programs that are used to gain access to people’s personal information and wreak havoc on the computer once the program has run its course. Protecting yourself and your customers from attacks is crucial to running a successful online business.

The newest way to steal information or to damage a PC is through websites. In a recent scan, Google found three hundred thousand websites with malware on their pages. These webmasters weren’t necessarily even aware they had destructive software on their pages.

So how can you make sure your site stays safe?

First, know the enemy

‘Malware’ is short for ‘malicious software’ and refers to software that can destroy data, muck up computer performance and cause a crash, or create open access to email accounts for spammers. These programs are also known as viruses, Trojans, worms, or Spyware.

Browser Barricades

One good way to keep yourself safe from malware is to prevent as much as possible from slipping in. Hackers have set up programs to take advantage of any flaws in the browser code, and you can end up downloading malware without knowing it.

Internet Explorer and Firefox are the most commonly used browsers, so they are big targets. Make sure to download the security updates as they are made available – but only do so from IE and Firefox. Fake virus protection is a major niche for hackers and malware.

As an Internet marketer, you need to make sure your website works with these browsers and any updates. To do this, you should check out Browsershots.org which will show you how your site looks and loads on major browsers and operating systems.

Protect and Serve

We’ll go over other ways to keep your site and your business safe from hackers and viruses over the next few days, but there’s one other starter step to mention: security software solutions.

It’s important to have some sort of security software, and there’s a variety available, and even some for free.

Secunia PSI detects programs that are out-of-date or susceptible to viruses on Windows PCs, and it’s free. Microsoft also offers its own free malware removal tool.

It’s worth paying for safety as well. Norton Antivirus and McAfee Virus Scan are good programs. And as a bonus for affiliate marketers, both companies have affiliate programs. So you could end up earning back your investment in security software and then some!

Keeping your website safe for your users is vital for your online business, and there’s no better place to start than your own computer.