Viruses, spyware, phishers, malware, trojans...
these names have become synonymous with computer use.
Until a decade or so ago, computer users were only worried about viruses and any decent anti-virus program on their PC was enough to keep it safe from intruders and malicious attacks.
Nowadays, there are more ways in which computers are attacked and things are not so simple.
In the good old days, viruses primarily were transmitted through floppy disks when programs and other information were shared between computers.
Then, computer networks were rare and expensive.
Nowadays, with internet connections becoming extremely cheap and affordable, there are hardly any households that are not connected to the internet and many have home networks.
Networks are the routes of replication through which most malicious code is now spread.
These dangerous pieces of code are made to hijack personal information and also to prevent users from accessing certain parts of their hard drives.
For everyone who owns a computer that is connected to the net, it is vital that it is protected against these malwares.
There is no way of telling from where the virus or any other malware might attack a PC.
Opening an email or the simply visiting a bad website can be enough.
At other times, connecting a friend's USB (universal serial bus) drive to a PC might infect it.
The US military banned these drives after some of their computers were infected in this way.
These scripts are becoming more sophisticated with each passing day.
A link to a photograph might well lead to downloading an infected file.
The bottom line is that everyone should take adequate measures to prevent their PCs from getting infected.
There are many programs available that help protect a PC but, at the end of the day, just being careful helps even more.
Show some caution when surfing new sites.
If the site seems to be acting oddly and slowing down the browser, close the browser ASAP.
Opening images or clicking on links in unsolicited emails is one of the most dangerous things any computer user can do.
A high percentage of these contain various types of viruses and malware.
Only open emails from trusted sources.
On the software side, make sure every computer has good anti-virus and good anti-malware applications that automatically update.
A good software firewall is also a must.
The firewall that comes with the operating system many not be sufficient.
For an additional wall of safety to protect the computer, having a hardware based firewall in the form of a router also helps.
There is no need to get too worried though.
By following these precautions, the chances of running into serious problems are relatively low.
Basic security measures go a long way in keeping most users safe.
these names have become synonymous with computer use.
Until a decade or so ago, computer users were only worried about viruses and any decent anti-virus program on their PC was enough to keep it safe from intruders and malicious attacks.
Nowadays, there are more ways in which computers are attacked and things are not so simple.
In the good old days, viruses primarily were transmitted through floppy disks when programs and other information were shared between computers.
Then, computer networks were rare and expensive.
Nowadays, with internet connections becoming extremely cheap and affordable, there are hardly any households that are not connected to the internet and many have home networks.
Networks are the routes of replication through which most malicious code is now spread.
These dangerous pieces of code are made to hijack personal information and also to prevent users from accessing certain parts of their hard drives.
For everyone who owns a computer that is connected to the net, it is vital that it is protected against these malwares.
There is no way of telling from where the virus or any other malware might attack a PC.
Opening an email or the simply visiting a bad website can be enough.
At other times, connecting a friend's USB (universal serial bus) drive to a PC might infect it.
The US military banned these drives after some of their computers were infected in this way.
These scripts are becoming more sophisticated with each passing day.
A link to a photograph might well lead to downloading an infected file.
The bottom line is that everyone should take adequate measures to prevent their PCs from getting infected.
There are many programs available that help protect a PC but, at the end of the day, just being careful helps even more.
Show some caution when surfing new sites.
If the site seems to be acting oddly and slowing down the browser, close the browser ASAP.
Opening images or clicking on links in unsolicited emails is one of the most dangerous things any computer user can do.
A high percentage of these contain various types of viruses and malware.
Only open emails from trusted sources.
On the software side, make sure every computer has good anti-virus and good anti-malware applications that automatically update.
A good software firewall is also a must.
The firewall that comes with the operating system many not be sufficient.
For an additional wall of safety to protect the computer, having a hardware based firewall in the form of a router also helps.
There is no need to get too worried though.
By following these precautions, the chances of running into serious problems are relatively low.
Basic security measures go a long way in keeping most users safe.
Source...