Computers At Home Or Office : Are they fully secured?

Today, we are all in internet, super sonic age. It is the computers, which started to dominate the world, from 1990’s. People started using computers for not only calculations, but, also to store information. The revolutionary new concept of adaptation of photography in computers, drastically improved its use in many fields. This result, of course, in turn, raised many questions about security concerns in computer.

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About a culprit without computer knowledge:

You may ask me, why, the culprits take away the computer system itself, especially, if also he does not know what is there inside the computer. Well, this perhaps a good and interesting question to answer. Just imagine, a situation in which one has the habit of storing secrete information, such as passwords along with the usernames, credit/debit card information, bank account information such as bank statements thinking that they may forget them often, being negligent that what a thief can do in case of theft.

Yes of course, a thief without computer knowledge, cannot access these information. But, there is high possibility of stealing your information from stolen computer, if one looks at the other side of a coin.

Attacks, hackings, showing a way:

There are high possibilities of carrying out attacks, such as spamming, hacking from a stolen computer. There are high chances of using the stolen computers for sending threatening mails to some dignitaries. What happens in such cases? Investigating authorities may come to a conclusion that the actual owner of the computer is involved in such illegal activities, if the owner has not given any written complaint on the same day, the computer was missing.

There is highly interesting question of why do the intruders mostly look for home computer for hacking. The answer, perhaps, home system is less secure. The intruders can hack the home systems easily. Home users are less concerned about safety of computers at home. For example, home users are often negligent to do downloading latest software updates. Computer literacy is also less among home users, when compared to professional users. The intruders take advantage of these things to gain easy access to the system. It is as good as driving a car without taking insurance.

How intrusions occur in home computer?

From physically carrying away the computer without permission to virtually damaging the computer, intrusions can occur in many ways. The one most used way of intrusion is, sending a virus through an email to your email id. The email subject will be attractive one, such that, it invites the owner of email id to check the content of the mail. If the owner clicks to open the mail, the virus program automatically gets launched, without any ones knowledge. The program runs automatically without any one’s knowledge. One such program is sufficient to create high trouble in computer system and the internet connection which the computer system uses. The program exploits weaknesses in the system to gain access. The program creates logical holes, using which a hacker can gain access to the computer system.

So, How to protect my computer from attacks?

This is perhaps not so easy one, and also not so difficult one too. It is some how depends on how you use your computer. It is better, if one follows these steps to protect the computer from intrusion and other illegal activities.

1. Install and update the anti-virus softwares

This is perhaps the most basic step to be taken to protect the computer. Virus attacks can cause the computer to act differently. Hackers usually steal information from your system, if the system is infected with a virus. Today, viruses are capable of transmitting information on one computer to another. After installing antivirus software, one must not forget to periodically update its definition files. Latest virus definition files can be downloaded from the web site of antivirus developers. If the system is already infected with some serious viruses, installing antivirus program in them will not solve the problem. One need to work as it is, without complaining about the virus or should be ready to sacrifice the data existing in the system. Therefore, it is also recommended to scan and use the external devices, whenever you need to use them. Always keep the virus definitions up to date.

2. Install latest updates which are related to the operating system

Many changes to the system programs are needed from time to time. Even a small change made to the program regarding security aspects, must be reflected, in order to stay secured. The system program that comes with the operating system is required to be updated whenever one stays connected to the internet. One can do it automatically by setting the automatic updates ON. This will download and installs the modified latest program.

3. Take care while opening the emails, attachments

Opening unknown emails could cause problems such as, opening holes, causing the system to malfunction etc. Always open emails sent by known persons only. Always keep the email scanner which comes along with the antivirus, ON, in order to ensure that the system gets protected, even if you open the unknown emails.

4. Install and update the firewall programs

Just like antivirus program, a firewall program prevents access to unauthorized sites. They can block a site from accessing information from your computer, if the site contains some illegal scripts or programs to run, before the site is being made available to the user. Just like antivirus program, a firewall program will need to maintain list of illegal sites. This list need to be updated periodically because, new sites keep emerging out, daily.

5. Make copies of important documents and folders

It is needed to create backup of important documents and folders, in DVD’s or in CD’s because, in some cases, the system needs to be formatted, causing the documents and folders to be erased. In such cases, documents cannot be retrieved back, after the reinstallation of operating system gets completed.

6. Be careful while downloading and installing programs

Extreme care must be taken while downloading and installing the programs that are available on the net. They can expose your computer to the hackers, sending secrete information from your computer.

7. Protect your privacy

If you are using email accounts, change the passwords periodically. The lengthy password will be the difficult one to hack. Lengthy passwords normally vary from 10 to 15 characters, even up to 20 characters. Never share passwords, even with your best friends!

8. Encrypt and Decrypt files to protect the data files

In a computer system, the all important thing is stored data. One can get access to the computer, especially when the computer connects to the internet. You will get protected, even if some one steels a important file, if the file is converted to an unreadable form. The encryption program feature will do the job, converting from readable from to unreadable format. If the user hits correct code, then only the file gets converted back from unreadable to readable format. This process is called as Decryption.

Newer security updates, concepts keep peeping through the internet. One must be aware of these updates, and use them to maintain the computer. Enjoy whenever you can, but, don’t forget to keep updating the system, antivirus, and firewall programs. Never ignore warning messages that are emerged out of these programs. Enjoy the computer with computer literacy!