How to Protect Yourself Against Online Scams

The constant barrage of spam emails and barely-legitimate advertising on the Internet can make it seem like everyone's out to trick you, and a pretty substantial proportion of those people actually are. Computers have brought many conveniences into our lives, but they've also made it easier for scammers, confidence tricksters and criminals to get their hooks in as well, often protected by the veil of online anonymity we're all afforded online.

The best way to prevent yourself from becoming a victim is to be prepared. That's why we've compiled this list of scams, tricks and traps that you might encounter because of your computer, whether online or offline. To give you a fighting chance, we'll also explain the strategies you can use and preventative measures you can take to ensure that your computer - and the personal information kept on it - remains as far away from the eyes of the scammers as is possible. 

Give Your PC A Spring Clean For Instant Results

Does your PC freeze or shutdown after it's been on for a while, or whilst you are performing lots of tasks? If so, there's a good chance the machine is getting a bit hot under the collar . More specifically, your CPU (Central Processing Unit) is getting too hot and finding it hard to function properly.

The reason for this problem is surprisingly good old fashioned, low tech: dust. The dust is drawn into your PC's case because the machine sucks in air to cool down important components. The hottest of these components is normally the CPU, which - like we do after exercise - produces heat as a by-product of its work. The same simple law that says work makes heat is also true of all your machine's major parts. As they work away they get a little toasty – and sometimes this can be dangerous.