Important Internet issues

Alongside the technology and the opportunity, there are a number of important issues that anyone planning to use the Internet should take into account.

Security

The Internet can hold certain risks.

There is the danger of downloading a file or an attachment to an e-mail which has been infected by a 'virus' or programme designed to affect the way your computer operates. Some viruses are malicious and can cause great damage. Others are relatively harmless and simply annoy.

While the overall danger of being infected by a virus can sometimes be overstated, it cannot be ignored, especially as adequate protection can be easily and cheaply ensured by running anti-virus software. Someone might gain unauthorised access to your computer or network when you are connected to the Internet, resulting in the loss of confidentiality or 'invasion' of your company records.

For a stand-alone computer connected to the Net through an ISP, the risks are minimal. If you connect to the Internet when also connected to an internal network, the danger is somewhat greater. The best protection is a firewall -a combination of software and hardware to prevent this situation from occurring.

The European Commission is working on ensuring security and trust in electronic communication, moving towards a European framework for encryption and digital signatures.

Privacy

When you send e-mail over the Internet, it is important to remember that it is not intrinsically secure. The open nature of the Net means that almost anyone with sufficient will and technical knowledge can intercept and read the message en-route. The process might be compared to sending a postcard.