Computer newbies forum: Fear the unknown about the internet and hesitating to use it

in your mailbox? If so you are like the rest of us and are already "tracked" and because you probably drive or have gone to school or have a job you have already given up a bit of your "privacy".

Pay attention to the usual actions you can take such as not posting your email address or home or business address anywhere and not clicking every offer to " click here" that comes along (pay attention to what you are doing) and make sure your Anti-Virus and anti-malware apps are updated and used and avoid porn sites and you should be OK.

There are no guarantees in life other than the guarantee that if you live you will die eventually. If death and injury statistics for cars forces you to ride a bike and then the same type of statistics forces you to walk you will soon discover that the same death and injury statistics will cause you to stay in your home until you find that most accidents happen in the home then you give up. SKIP all that and just enjoy your Internet and if the worst happens fix the problem, get over it and drive on.

You can set your security parameters from control panel under internet options. Always use some type of antivirus/spyware program, there are tons of them out there, some are free and pretty functional but if you are a newbie you might be better off purchasing an a/v package (on disk) from a box store and you may want to research what the technoids recommend these days, there are MANY opinions. Win Vista and Win 7 have a security package bundled but I would still recommend using something aftermarket rather than depending on Windows security. If you are just starting out it would be a good idea to get some advice and many box stores have technicians who are reasonably knowledgeable regarding these types of issues, that is where I would start. Good luck!

that there is anything any of us here can say to you that will help.

Yes, you have posted your concerns here many times, and yes, I have already suggested, with great respect I trust, that we cannot help you with what seems to be psychological problems and you should, in my view, seek professional help.

I simply do not know what form of words anyone here can use to help you with your problems.

Mark

The internet is a great place and you should take full advantage of it. You can search and find out an incredible amount of stuff for your job, investments, career, education, locate job and investment opportunities or simply find long-lost friends and relatives.
Not sure how to say this- just come in. There is nothing to fear but fear itself.
Some simple safety rules:
1]Get/install a reliable antivirus/firewall [defensive] program.
I have had good experience with Norton and MacAfee.
2]Keep the antivirus program updated. Usually the programs update automatically when you open your computer or you are prompted by the program when you open the program by clicking on the program icon.
3]Regularly scan your computer for viruses and other unwanted files by running the "scan" feature on the antivirus program.
I update my antivirus program and I do a full system scan of my computer every week.

The antivirus/firewall is great because it:
1] Advises you if the website you are about to click-on/open is safe and trusted.
2] It warns you if the website is bad/unknown/untrusted.==Don't open!!
3] It blocks bad files/viruses from being dumped in your computer.
4] It will ask you to confirm if you trust a file/program before it is installed on your computer--you can accept or deny access ==You have the power.!!!
5] It actually prevents tracking of your computer==It is called "Intrusion Detection".

I suspect that websites like Microsoft/Norton/MacAfee also have tutorials to keep you safe on the web.
Regular scanning of your computer will help detect any files/viruses that may breach your antivirus defenses the antivirus programs can help to remove such files/viruses.

Of course, limit your exposure [just like avoiding bad neighborhoods]:
1] Avoid vice/bad sites [pornographic/quick money/easy money sites/??gambling sites]
2] Avoid websites/ file downloads from sites that you are not familair with.

Nothing is 100% guaranteed to be safe; but don't stay out.
Sorry I can't help with the smart phone; I am only familiar with laptops/desk-top.

By the way, if you are posting on this website, you already know how to use the internet- just expand your comfort zone.
Sorry for rambling/long-winded post.

I have been using the internet since 1984 and have had no serious tracking issues. As long as you have good antivirus protection and a firewall (I use eset) there is nothing to overly concern yourself with. We are tracked from the day we leave the womb. It used to be on paper, now it is in hyper-space. The majority of us lead pedestrian lives of no real interest to anyone except our friends, family and advertisers. I have a love-hate relationship with advertisers. Pop-ups can be easily blocked as well as junk and spam mail but side-bar advertisements show up on the sites I visit. Many times, though, they lead me to something that really is interesting and new.
It is new world and it is for us to manipulate it. Do not think that some person is looking over your shoulder, it is just software doing its job. It is totally impersonal. There is a vast ocean of information out there for you. If you are interested in model planes, old victrolas, muscle cars, geology, football.........anything and everything ever written or imagined is there for you. Go for it.