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Firewalls useless if not updated regularly

A firewall is one of the most basic internet security mechanisms which alongside online security solutions, such as anti-virus software, should form a core part of internet security defences, an specialist has said.

However, these solutions are only useful if they are regularly updated as the range and scale of online threats is constantly changing, according to Ian Kilpatrick, the chairman of IT security specialists Wick Hill Group.

"In order to address these it is vital that you ensure your anti-virus software and firewalls are fully patched and up-to-date. Ideally this should be carried out automatically in background mode," advises the specialist.

An awareness of what online threats lie out in the open should be the first approach to internet security because if you are ignorant "then you are not really in a position to put in place a series of measures to counter these threats".

Mr Kilpatrick also recommends encryption, which he says is increasingly gaining popularity.

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