PC Security Threats

Computer Security

Understanding and appreciating the potential problems and threats you computer could expose to your online privacy you can better protect your personal information and have a better more secure online experience. Before the popularity of the internet information and communication was relatively safe, computer security threats word were only limited to virus that could damage files on you computer, if you never shared any information you were basically safe.

Times have changed. Now as soon as you are connected to the internet you computer is at risk from programs that can download and install on there own and send information to a third party. An attachment that you may receive via email may have malicious software designed to destroy the data on your computer. With out the proper protection that malicious software sent by potential a hacker can cause severe security breaches to you computer, to steal passwords account information, or use your computer to create DDoS Denial of service attacks. A DDoS is a hacker’s way of using you computer as a robot to attack high profile website or a denial of service.

What is a virus? A virus contains a code that is created to implement and perform with out your consent activities on your computer. Although there might be many viruses that are not harmful there are many that are very harmful. One virus can completely wipe out all the data on your hard drive or replicate it self so many times that it renders your computer completely useless. Viruses differ from worms in the sense that can attach themselves to files on your computer which enables them to spread to all of the data on your hard drive. A worm is a type of virus that can also multiple but it does not infect other files, both a virus and a worm and quickly spread through the entire network infecting all the computers with that network. If you are not using any kind of virus protection you are putting yourself at risk. We recommend that you protect your data and privacy when you email, download music, bank or shop online with Security Shield 2007 it combines automated virus and spyware discovery and removal, with daily, automatically updated, virus protection from F-Secure's world-renowned virus research laboratory.

What is a Virus Hoax? A Virus hoax is a warning message about a virus that most likely does not exist. If you get a email message warning you of a virus do not respond to it or forward it to any friends or family, the best thing to do is just delete it. If you do think that the virus may be legitimate you can got to www.mcafee.com, they will have an updated virus hoax list that you can check. So be sure to check the list before forwarding the potential virus threat, everybody has enough junk mail to deal with.

What is a Trojan Horse? A Trojan Horse is a program that makes you believe that it is harmless and useful but in reality it performs unauthorized malicious activities on your computer. The major difference between a Trojan Horse and a virus is that a Trojan does not replicate itself, but it can steal data, delete files, and even disable your computer security settings. Most virus software programs will protect your computer from Trojan Horse threats. Spyware and adware are a form of Trojan Horse. They most always download and install on there own when you are connected to the internet with your knowledge. They can download and install on there own just by visiting unsafe websites or sometime you may find them in free games or free software. And finally there are types of Trojan horses that are specifically designed for dial up modems they can be made so that they dial international phone numbers, and you man not realize there is a problem until you receive your phone bill.

Hackers and Crakers who are they? A hackers is a very knowledgeable computer geek who is very good at coding and can tweak programs to maker that program do things it was not designed to do. A Craker is a person that has the ability and the knowledge to break into large networks to steal private information like social security numbers or credit card account information.

When ever you connect to the internet you computer become part of a very large network of computers, this without the proper protection leaves your computer open to crakers and security breaches. The more time you spend online the more at risk you are, thus if you have a always on internet connection such such as cable or DSL you have a higher risk of potential security threats, as opposed to dial connection when you are only online when you dial up and connect to your (ISP) Internet Service Provider. If you do have a Cable or DSL connection you can do one of two things or even both. First you can just simply turn you computer off. Second you can invest in a software firewall, which are relatively inexpensive and it will keep you computer secure. We recommend Webroot Desk Top Firewall, you can get a free trial by following this link.

Fighting the Good fight. You can never let you guard when it comes to fighting off the bad guys, a computer that is connected to the internet is never completely safe and secure. Once a security hole has been patched or fixed a craker can find another security flaw and use it to to his advantaged and exploit it. Same thing with viruses, as soon a company like MacAfee or Symantec identifies a virus and has a fix, someone will rewrite the virus and change the code to make it a threat again and avoid detection. There fore to keep you computer as secure as possible you will need to have antivirus software and spyware and ad aware protection, keep that software up-to-date and be careful of websites that you visit and you will have a safe and secure internet experience.