Computers are the most useful and well-known technical gadgets used worldwide. Some uses it for their livelihood, some uses it for playing games on it and some uses it for browsing the Internet world. Among those who use the computer, most of us do not know the proper security steps that can be taken to prevent unauthorized access to their machines. Many of us do not hesitate surfing the Internet wirelessly on any hotspots without knowing the security part, which if turned out to be a Poisoned Hotspot can be very dangerous. Most of the hackers try to sniff data stored in the computer without the owner´s permission. Taking some necessary steps can prevent these.
Types of computer attacks
There can be two types of attacks which a computer might face:
• Active Attack
• Passive Attack
Active attack is something where eavesdropping is on so that the data sniffer can sniff the data which is being transmitted over the network. These attacks are difficult to detect but can be prevented.
Passive attack is done by those who have an intention to destroy other´s network security without having any aim of sniffing their data, but they are harmful as well. These attacks are easy to trace out but can be difficult to protect from those.
Remedies of computer security
The collection of various hardware and software specially designed to protect from data theft and other malicious stuffs are termed as computer security. There can be various solutions to protect the computers from unauthorized access from hackers and crackers. Hackers are those programmers who break the computer security with an intension to steal, destroy or change some data that is also treated as cyber-crime. Whereas, a cracker is a programmer who gains unauthorized access to a computer without having any specific intension as the hackers has. Some proper security tools might include firewall, anti-virus, anti-spyware, proper use of the Operating System and its browser etc. Let us discuss them one by one.
Firewall:- This can also be describes as a protected wall or shell all around the computer to detect and filter out the threats which try to access the computer in an unmeaning full manner. A firewall is the combination of hardware and software that is installed in the machine that helps in controlling the flow of data between computer networks. It helps the computer to protect from the hackers who can sniff data without the owner´s permission.
Those who have Windows XP or Windows Vista as their operating system, for them getting a firewall is not a worry, they just need to make them active to protect themselves from the hackers and other unwanted stuffs. But those who doesn´t have any of those two as their operating system, they need to have any other firewall software which is easily available in the market.
Anti-virus:- One of the most important tools for computer security is the anti-virus software. Though a firewall is always protecting from unwanted access to the computer network, but still some malwares make their way onto the computer by means of some attached file in the email or files from the Internet that the firewall cannot detect. For those malwares the antivirus software can be effective.
Antivirus software´s are easily available in the market that doesn´t cost much. Sometimes it is also bundles with a firewall as well which also includes in the security tool.
Some other security concerns are operating system; the web browsers and many more which should be updated regularly. One should also not click on the links which are there in unwanted emails, as they are might contain viruses and other malwares. Some people also face trouble when they download any free software that in some cases are bundled with viruses and spywares.
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Pc Security For Vista
PC Security includes threats such as viruses, identity theft, spyware, adware to name but a few. The latest statistics show that at least over 900 new viruses are created each month which makes keeping track of them really quite difficult. Identity Theft is one of the fastest growing modern day crimes and can 'cripple' the affected individual. The criminals that do these things are constantly coming up with new ways or ideas to get into our personal computers. Usually, they infect the hard drives of Personal Computers with viruses and destroy the affected computers or steal our personal identity.
Here you find that ones personal sensitive information, like files, credit card information, operating system or software and other non-disclosed data can be penetrated by these criminals.
Spyware, Adware and Malware are recent tools in the arsenal of these hackers and are used quite efficiently to collect and transfer valuable electronic information from unsuspecting individuals over the Internet. When connected to the internet, everyone must ensure that every file that is downloaded, opened or saved is safe and free of irregularities of any kind.
It is vitally important to install and configure software programs that will constantly scan your PC for these bugs which can be nuisances and cause crashes, slow down systems, or steal financial information. This can be called PC Diagnostics which is a utility that runs a battery of tests on your PC or a session held to analyze computer problems.
It should be noted that you must also configure your PC browser to protect you when you are working online. This will help in blocking offensive and dangerous websites from entering your PC environs. Other actions that can be taken should be:
- Installing the latest firewall and antivirus software.
- Making sure you block downloads that install unwanted programs.
- Preventing malicious add ons to your computer and immunizing your PC.
- For those using Microsoft Windows, install all windows critical updates for your operating system.
- Make sure you create a complete backup of your hard drive.
These are but a few of the steps you should take in ensuring that you use your computer without fear of being spied on or having your computer crippled.
Another part of PC Security that cannot be ignored is Email Security. It is common knowledge that you should not open email attachments unless you are absolutely certain who sent them to you. Criminals try to disguise their emails so that you think they are from a friend or business associate or a well known company. Do please remember that no loan company, no credit card company or bank, or any other financial institutions will ever ask for personal information in an email. If any personal information is asked by email, you can be certain that their request is not legitimate. Please with all care, do not email anyone your personal information.
At the beginning of this article, I stated that in a lot of homes, the most popular use for personal computers is for playing games. Computer games are now a multi-billion dollar industry and invariably, kids would love to get their hands on the latest game. Unknown to a lot of families, some of these computer games are riddled with viruses and spyware causing untold damage to the affected computer. A lot of care and consideration should be taken prior to purchasing any computer game. It should be purchased from a reputable company.
Usually in a lot of companies, as part of the security measures undertaken, below are some of the actions given to staff and could be applied to your home:
- When you walk away from your computer, shut it down.
- Make sure your computer is password-protected while you are away.
- Please do not stay connected to the internet unless you are actively online.
- Never leave your computer connected to the internet overnight or at any other time when you are away from your computer.
Finally, it should be noted that if you are cash strapped, you can get free antivirus software applications over the internet. Examples of free applications are:
- AVG Free Edition from Grisoft.
- Zone Alarm Free Firewall
- CyberScrub KeyChain
While this article is by no means exhaustive, it will provide you with the essentials to protect your Personal Computer and data. I sincerely hope you take urgent action before you find your PC in a state of disrepair.
Both Amaan Goyal & Larry George are contributors for EditorialToday. The above articles have been edited for relevancy and timeliness. All write-ups, reviews, tips and guides published by EditorialToday.com and its partners or affiliates are for informational purposes only. They should not be used for any legal or any other type of advice. We do not endorse any author, contributor, writer or article posted by our team.
Amaan Goyal has sinced written about articles on various topics from Keyboard Synthesizer, Malware and Ideas for Scrapbooking. VTechCare was founded by Amaan Goyal,an industry veteran and entrepreneur, with the mission to provide high quality computer support services,. Amaan Goyal's top article generates over 6600 views. Bookmark Amaan Goyal to your Favourites.
Larry George has sinced written about articles on various topics from Nutrition, Lose Weight and Computers and The Internet. Larry George runs http://www.PC-Matters.info where you can find more interesting articles relating to the Personal Computer.. Larry George's top article generates over 5400 views. Bookmark Larry George to your Favourites.
