With awareness and proper precautions, online rewards are great
Eddie Fuentes, a busy father of two, is one of millions of people who use their computer every day for more than just email. Eddie checks his bank statements daily, and pays his student loans and car payments online. These types of transactions deal with very personal information, and Eddie knows how important it is to have layers of protection to fill in security gaps on the Internet.
Hackers often exploit operating system vulnerabilities, and use high-traffic web sites to plant Trojan horses and other types of viruses on home PCs. That’s why Eddie has always defended himself against hackers and scammers with strong anti-virus and firewall software.
“From the time I bought my first computer back in my bachelor days, I’ve always invested in security software to keep my PC and information safe,” Eddie explained. “I’ve adopted a take-no-chances attitude and that has kept me safe. I’ve never let my coverage lapse, and my PC has never had a virus.”
His friends, however, have not been so lucky. “I have a friend who had his MySpace account hacked,” Eddie related. “Then they hacked into his Hotmail account and wreaked havoc there. This happened because he wasn’t running firewall software.”
“I have another friend who spent an immense amount of money getting his computer working again after it just stopped connecting to the Internet. He said it started operating more and more slowly, and then started re-routing to strange web sites before it just became unusable. The people he hired to fix it told him his start-up registry was filled with Trojan horse programs, which took over his Internet connection and overloaded his system.”
Eager to avoid similar setbacks in the future, this particular friend purchased a McAfee® Internet Security subscription on Eddie’s recommendation. Today, McAfee is keeping the friend’s computer safe from rogue programs that try to download through an always-on DSL connection. “I don’t think he knew the risk he was running, browsing without a fully protected computer,” said Eddie. “Considering how much money he spent buying a fully loaded PC and then fixing it, subscribing to a comprehensive suite is worth every penny!”
Back in the real world, Eddie is an avid surfer and snowboarder. “That’s ocean surfing,” Eddie laughs, “but I also do a fair bit of Internet surfing. I use my PC to check local surf conditions, and for email, banking, bills, and shopping. My wife uses the family PC for email, and for research and writing school papers. We rely on McAfee to keep our information safe while we’re busy doing our thing. Surfing the web—like the Pacific Ocean—requires a heightened level of awareness, but if you take the right precautions the rewards are fantastic!”
Eddie pays a small monthly fee to upgrade his Hotmail account to MSN Premium so that he can have integrated McAfee coverage. “I originally used McAfee on my parents’ computer, and when I got my own I stayed with MSN to keep my McAfee anti-virus and firewall subscription. When I got married, my wife wanted to use AOL, but I convinced her to let us stay with MSN because I was so happy with McAfee’s products. We’ve renewed that subscription for four years running. I guess my wife knows how to pick her battles!” Eddie laughed.
Although he’s always felt safe with his anti-virus and firewall coverage, Eddie understands that his security needs are growing. “I know I need to add McAfee’s latest anti-spyware coverage, to make sure I’m keeping up with new threats out there in cyberspace,” he said. “I’ve heard that McAfee’s new spyware and adware prevention methods are really innovative. That’s exactly what I’m looking for, and I’ll probably be upgrading to McAfee Total Protection™ very soon, since it’s a great value. I’ll get 10-in-one protection from viruses, spyware, hackers, spam, identity theft, and email scams like phishing.”
Eddie likes McAfee’s automatic alerts feature, and appreciates how well the software keeps him informed of possible attacks on his system. “I can deny access to questionable processes very easily when McAfee warns me of a problem. I can also see the details of what’s going on. I especially like the new virus alerts that the system sends me. I feel like I have the right level of control, with the software giving me the proper information to make good decisions.”
Eddie believes in having fun and taking chances, but he makes sure he covers his bases to keep himself and his family secure. “I take my family’s safety very seriously,” he said. “I do everything I can to protect us, and online threats are just as real as physical ones. I love to push the limits in sports, but I also know the importance of evaluating your environment to take the proper precautions. Then you can really thrive. Online, I’ve always felt safe with McAfee’s protection, and that’s what my family will continue to rely on.”
Interview conducted by Contos Dunne Communications, LLC, March 2007.