Archive for January, 2008

PC Security Step 5 - Should You Have a Firewall?

Wednesday, January 30th, 2008

As we have already discussed, the Internet is littered with evil intentions and malicious - albeit smart and brilliant - plotters. They are constantly in the prowl for innocent, unprotected computers. Internet hackers use all sorts of codes such as viruses, worms, and Trojans, to crack into and ruin your computer. You must therefore be prepared to block them off from ever entering your computer’s system at all times.

It is often said that the best cure is prevention. And the saying applies to your computers. If you want to protect your computer from the threat of viruses, worms, Trojans, and other malicious code, one of the best options to take is setting up a firewall.

What is a Firewall?

Imagine a firewall to be the fence that sits between your computer and the Internet, or between your computer network and all the other computer networks out there.

It serves as a defense mechanism against harmful codes or data that may destroy your computer, and it works by examining the information that attempts to enter your computer or your network.

When a firewall is set up properly, hackers will not be able to detect your computer in their search for vulnerable ones to victimize.
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PC Security Step 4 - Back Up Important Files

Friday, January 25th, 2008

Avoid a Computer Crash Wipe Out: Back Up Important Files

You’ve heard horror stories about it, or perhaps you’ve experienced it yourself. Many people have nearly gone insane after the disaster that all computer-dependent individuals shiver at the thought of: the great computer crash.

A person can literally lose everything he has saved on his computer in a blink of an eye. The reasons are varied. At times it occurs after an ample amount of warning signs, other times it comes as a complete surprise (making it more disconcerting). When these moments happen - and they do happen, and quite often actually - one can only hope that he has saved his files elsewhere, otherwise, there is little hope that they will be recovered.

Are you scared yet? If you don’t want this to happen to you and your precious files (which I’m almost sure you don’t), read on and find out how to create backups for your many important files.
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PC Security Step 3 - Password Protection

Tuesday, January 22nd, 2008

Preventing Password Hackers

PC security and safety is always an issue nowadays thanks to the advent of computer technology and the Internet. More computer intruders are boldly coming forward and are looking for ways to attack helpless computer users with valuable information stored in their PCs. Intruders are getting their hands on the latest security measures brought out by various developers and are looking for ways to get through them.

Anti-virus software developers are doing their best to ensure every computer user’s safety and security from potential attacks by always updating their virus definitions and cleaning capabilities, as well as strengthening your firewalls. Sometimes however, it is not enough as intruders can be one or more steps ahead. They use various means of attacking computers so it is sometimes hard to tell what they’re going to do next.

One of the ways is hacking in order to retrieve your password. Think of the many things they can do once they get your passwords - they can access any online accounts you may have, access your email to send and retrieve messages from your address, enter secure networks - the possibilities seem to be limitless. In order to prevent these things from happening, you should have password protection.
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PC Security Step 2 - All About Viruses

Thursday, January 17th, 2008

Computer Viruses and Guarding Against Them

In this modern Information Age, computers are necessities in life. Whether we use them for simple functions such as typing our homework and business reports, up to more important acts like online business meetings and transactions, one cannot deny that computers are a big part in our daily lives. Using a computer, particularly the Internet, is one task that even a ten year old can do at this particular period in time.

With the growing increase of popularity and reliance on computers, as well as the demand for it, security risks have also gone up, which is a reality that cannot be ignored. With the billions of information bits being spread across the World Wide Web, hackers and computer intruders (criminals) see the value in focusing their attention to computers and the Internet. The information they would retrieve here is (more often than not) more useful than when doing it the old-fashioned way.

As such, these intruders have devised methods to get information out of computer users, with or without these people knowing that they’ve been hacked. As is the case in real life, there are some computer programs that are disguised to be innocent, but actually act as spies, providing information to the intruders. These malicious programs, which are security threats, are called computer viruses.

Computer viruses should not be taken lightly. They work in many different ways; one of them may be to provide data to the one who planted the virus. Other viruses can simply be annoying - slowing down your computer, building unwanted files, etc. - while some can be very disruptive, such as deleting your hard drive, compromising your operating system, etc.

As such, there are different types of viruses, which normally differ in how they function and how they are spread. Examples of these include Trojan horses, worms, email viruses, and logic bombs. It would be important for you to know these kinds of viruses in order to better protect you from them, as well as to have the proper programs to get rid of them.
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PC Security Step 1 - How Secure is Your Home Computer?

Monday, January 14th, 2008

Ensuring the Safety and Security of Your Home Computer

With the popularity of and the reliance on the Internet by almost the entire world population, there are suddenly a lot of things you can do and know with literally one click of the mouse. Making purchases nowadays doesn’t require you to go to the shop or store; you can buy items online. Researching for various pieces of information can now be accomplished via the Internet.

However, there is an unfortunate reality that goes along with the wonders of the Internet. It also thanks to the Internet that computer security is always an issue. With the continued growth of the dependency of people (including businessmen, offices, government officials, and more) on computers and the Internet, this is a more important issue than what most believe.

If you are a home computer user, you still need to make sure that your computer is safe from any form of malicious online attack, including hacking. You might have important data (including any identification) in your computer which intruders can have access to. That being said, it is important for you to find out just how safe your computer is from these potential attacks.
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