Internet Security - Easy Steps to Deter Computer Intruders
The phrase is as common as “super-size that”, but not many people truly understand what “internet security” means. Security refers to a number of things - antivirus protection, a personal firewall, and anti-spyware are the most common.
Your computer was created with different levels of access and as the primary user of the computer you have “owner” or “administrator” access.
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If you’re running Windows 2000 or XP and
would like to see how this works, hold down
the <CTRL> and <ALT> keys at the same
time while simultaneously pressing <DEL>
quickly.
A window will open called the “Windows
Task Manager.” If you click on the tab at
the top called “Processes”, you will see a
list of all the things running on your system.
Each of these processes will have a user
name beside it. This is the user that is
running any given process. You might see
a bunch of them being run by “System”,
“Local Service” or some other such
official-sounding name.
These are all parts of Windows that run in
the background while you do other things.
They have “system-level” access to your
computer so they can control things behind
the scenes.
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Without getting too technical, as the “owner” you have certain privileges and access to files on the computer that outsiders do not. So, why then, are hackers able to breach your internet security and access files or create computer problems if they are not a user on your computer?
The answer is that they fool the computer into thinking they are an authorized user and are thus given access. There are many different types of viruses, but many breaches in security occur when a virus is created by someone with vast knowledge about the system’s internet security and coding.
With this knowledge they are able to fool your computer into thinking you are giving them rights as a user or authorizing the download of a certain program. Once that occurs your files can be deleted or your personal information can be compromised. Most people do not back up their files, so work, personal data, irreplaceable photos and huge MP3 files are often lost forever.
It can also be a privacy issue. If your personal information is taken you could became a victim of identify theft which studies have shown, on average, takes 600 hours to combat.
This is not even including the computer problems you’ll encounter from malicious programs. Most often annoying programs such as adware or spyware are put on your computer which can literally bombard you with dozens of pop-up ads every time you visit a new Web page. Not only is it frustrating, but these programs are difficult to remove and make using the Internet almost impossible.
Is it Just Windows that Has These Problems?
While Windows has the most internet security issues by far, all operating systems are prone to vulnerabilities which can lead to computer problems. Many people feel Mac computers are totally secure, but this is not really true. Granted, they are much less vulnerable to viruses and virtually safe from spyware and adware, but they are not 100% secure either.
If anything, a Mac user’s belief that they are immune to viruses can make them more vulnerable since they may be lax in updating, or even having virus protection and other internet security measures.
Part of the reason Windows is such a target is because of its “bang for the buck.” The vast majority of computers connected to the internet run Windows, so the people who write viruses, spyware and other problematic software aim for the biggest target. As more and more people move to the Mac, Linux or some other operating system to avoid these problems, they will also become more of a target.
The three easiest ways, according to the Microsoft Network, to strengthen your Internet security and avoid dangerous computer problems is to
- Always keep your operating system up to date with the latest software updates. If you run Windows and are unsure of how to do this, take a look at our Windows Update page for more information.
- Use a personal firewall. For more information about this, take a look at our firewall page.
- Use virus protection software and update it regularly.
Even if you don't have an antivirus program installed on your computer, or if you're having problems with it, there are free online virus scanning sites that you can use to check for viruses.
Click here to find out more about free online virus scan websites