The short answer is No. But don't get too alarmed, most are completely safe, for the rest there are ways to help protect yourself and make "surfing the Net" safer. Apart from fraudulent web sites - called Phishing (or Spoofing) previously mentioned, Browser hijacking, Adware and Spyware are the most common dangers. They can either be a minor annoyance or a really frustrating invasion of your computer. Adware and browser hijackers generally affect your web browser and may force a certain (often unsavoury) web page to always open without your consent. Spyware may try to locate and steal personal information stored on your computer or use it to attack or spam other computers or websites. Hopefully by avoiding dubious or bad taste websites it's unlikely you will be affected by these, but sometimes by inadvertently clicking on a link on a search website or advertising, you could find yourself somewhere you didn't mean to be.

When you visit a website that offers online services for the first time, such as a bank or business that you deal with, you may see a popup window asking permission to install some component needed to view the website. These are usually small programs (called ActiveX scripts) which your browser uses to provide the service you are requesting. This is normal and if you are confident and familiar with the website you are dealing with, then you should feel ok to accept the request.

Unfortunately this is also one of the ways that a malicious script or program can install itself on your computer. So it is VERY important not to accept any popup alerts or windows asking to install something, unless you are absolutely sure you trust the website. Moreover, if you have not installed critical security updates for Windows for quite some time, or if your browser security settings are set very low, it may be possible for hostile websites to install scripts without even giving you an option of saying no. Internet Explorer supplied with Windows is the worst affected by both of these problems.

These types of infections are becoming far more common and till recently most anti-virus programs did not detect these scripts as they are not defined as viruses. Microsoft is constantly updating Windows to patch holes and stop malicious scripts from installing this way. So the first step to ensure you are protected is to perform regular Windows updates, or have the "Automatic Updates" feature turned on. Without these updates installed you will be leaving yourself seriously exposed. A report by an anti-spyware software company claims that Mal-ware tripled in 2005. Recently a number of Windows vulnerabilities were discovered that allowed people to run their own programs on your computer by simply visiting a malicious website or viewing an email. This and other previously discovered Windows holes go to show that by not regularly updating Windows the risk of being infected is high - even for the most careful of web surfers.

The second step is to configure Explorer to ask your permission before it installs anything. From the control panel clicking on "Internet Options | Security | Internet | Medium" should be enough for most sites if you have installed all windows updates and are careful about the sites you visit. If you prefer to have higher security or are concerned that your computer may be used to access unsavoury websites, you can configure Explorer not to run scripts at all by setting your Internet Zone security level to high. This is far more secure, however it also causes many legitimate websites not to function properly, or at all. Using this approach you must then add each of the legitimate sites to your "Trusted Sites" list so you can access them properly. Although cumbersome, this is the best way to ensure you web browser is safe.

Another option is to use an alternate web browser, such as Mozilla Firefox from www.mozilla.org. This and other web browsers available are less likely to suffer from these attacks, as most take advantage of holes or weaknesses in Explorer. However this does not mean they are free of being attacked, so you should make sure you set their security levels correctly and apply any updates as well.

The next step is to install software that detects and removes these infections. "Ad-Aware" from www.lavasoft.de is one I favour, and has a free version available. The problem with most anti-spyware software is they are unable to repair all infections, so installing several versions can sometimes be the only way to remove them. A more effective approach is to use software that works similar to anti-virus by running in the background monitoring your computer to stop infections before they get in. The paid versions of Ad-Aware include Ad-Watch which has this feature. Recent versions of some anti-virus software now also include spyware detection. As the saying goes, prevention is better than a cure.

An additional safeguard is to use software which inserts all known unsafe websites into Explorers "Restricted Sites" zone. Although not completely effective, it is one more barrier against infection. Just like anti-virus, all of the options mentioned require regular updates to make sure you have the latest "definitions." Some useful freeware software is here, www.javacoolsoftware.com/spywareblaster.html.

Even Google.com a very popular search website now warns people about infected sites in their search results. Although no guarantee, it does help reduce the risk of inadvertently visiting an infected website.

By now many of you reading this series of articles will wonder if you dare log on to the Internet for fear of something infecting or attacking your computer. We all know the danger of not locking the car doors and leaving it in an unsafe area, but it doesn't stop us from owning or driving one. Same for the Internet, there are dangers, but with simple precautions you can enjoy a safe and fun Internet experience. If I was to write an article on how many great things you can see and do on the Internet, I would have to write a library of books. By the time I finished there would be another series needed to update them. The Internet is a live and growing entity that I enjoy watching evolve. It has become so much more than just a big library of web pages. Now the interactive nature of the Internet means there is so much you can do online, so jump on in and see what you're missing. Just remember to practise safe Internet!