Why computer protection is important for you?

Answer 1

Computer protection covers a wide area of concerns. Here are some of the areas and their impact:

1. Malware - Malware is any type of harmful software. This includes viruses, trojans, worms, back doors, key loggers, spyware, and other harmful, unwanted software that you don't intentionally install. They slow down your computer, consume your memory, compromise your personal data, corrupt your programs/files, send spam, cause your computer to make unwanted long-distance phone calls if you have a dial-up modem, hijack your searches, hijack your browsers, interfere with the programs you run, and even send malicious traffic. In some cases, malware can cause you computer to abuse the terms of your internet provider, and you could face suspension or banishment from your ISP for what hackers cause your computer to do. So having an anti-virus program, anti-spyware program, and a firewall are important. Or if you prefer, you can get a security suite that includes all of this protection.

2. Unpopular software. This is software that isn't exactly harmful in the usual sense, but my be unwanted. These include unwanted toolbars, "utilities," services that claim to "enrich your computing experience," and various "junk" programs. These are mostly installed when you install other things. Most of the time, you can opt out of installing them, but they sometimes make the wording so confusing that you give your permission when you don't want it. Some of these border on being trojans since they often perform a desired function such as giving access to online music or weather reports, but they often share marketing data about you that come from your cookies. These programs eat up memory, consume hard drive space, reduce the performance of your computer, litter your desktop, and litter the browsers with toolbars and extensions. Some malware scanners will detect these, but often, you can just use the Add/Remove Programs or Programs & Features section of the control panel and remove anything which you don't remember installing. Just be careful and not remove device drivers that may be listed.

3. Spam, scams and Phishing. You may be targeted with spam emails. The spam often include scams and phishing attempts. A scam is when someone tries to cheat you out of your money, and phishing is when someone impersonates a trusted entity. For instance, you may get an email claiming to be from your bank. If you click the enclosed link and follow the instructions, you may have given thieves your bank account and pin number or other password. They may use this information to withdraw money or otherwise tamper with your bank account. Or they may pretend to be the IRS and demand payment, when the IRS does business strictly by standard mail. The biggest protection here is common sense. If they promise you money if you send your banking account numbers, drivers' license, SSN card, etc., you will likely be a victim of identity theft if you follow their instructions. Or if they ask you to send money to get money, you should know that you will never see the money again and they will not send you more back. If they claim you won an overseas lottery which you never even entered, when it is illegal for US citizens to enter by the way, and claim you need to send a processing fee, you should know it is a scam. If you must pay a processing fee, then they have not intentions of sending you money since they could deduct it from your winnings. If you do fall prey to a scam in a foreign country, you should alert your government. Contact the FBI or Secret Service if you live in the US. You don't want to pay foreign scammers and thieves a visit since they could kidnap or murder you.

4. Hackers. There are "black hat" or unethical hackers who try to get into people's computers or phones. Some are vandals who want to destroy something because they can, while others are voyeurs and common thieves who want to steal, compromise your privacy or commit blackmail. They may want to snoop through your emails, steal your ideas, obtain intimate or compromising photos, plant incriminating evidence, install malware, or install a "pornado." A pornado is a trojan that bombards a user with pornography, and if the person who puts it on someone's computer is particularly malicious, it may contain illegal pornography. Your best lines of defense would be to install a firewall, scan for any hacking tools, scan for malware, and use safe information storage and handling techniques. You could move sensitive documents to external hard drives or other media, and make sure it is removed from the computer when not in use. But do understand that external media can be stolen, so if it is really sensitive, you should keep it in a safe.

5. Personal risk. When you chat, others may want to meet you. This is particularly dangerous with children. Lets say a 10-year-old girl named Jennifer meets a 12-year-old "girl" named "Sarah" online. However, "Sarah" is actually a 45-year-old man named Peter who has been arrested for attempted rape. There may be clues such as "Sarah" asking personal questions, identifying questions ("Where do you live?"), or sexually explicit questions ("Are you a virgin? Have you finished puberty?"). More obvious red flags is them wanting to meet you, asking you to bring a young friend when you meet them, asking you to keep a secret, or saying they won't meet you if your parents are with you. You should tell your parents when you find things like this, and you should go with your gut feelings, not your longings and desires. You have to beware of even innocent questions where the answers can be combined to enable the person to find you.

Of course, adults are vulnerable too. For instance, they may use a trading site such as Craig's List to list a product or service. That means inviting people into your home. You might offer babysitting, nanny service, massage, or other personal services, or you might have something you want to sell. However, the customer might not be interested in what you have to offer, or they refuse to agree to the decided price. So they might kidnap you, do bodily harm to you, or even kill you. If you must use such a service, make sure you are not alone, let your friends know what you intend to do so they can check on you, and you may need to be armed with a weapon for your protection. If you must arm yourself, do make sure you know how to use it, know you won't freeze when you do attempt to use it, and that what you intend to use is legal for you to possess and use. Guns are not allowed in all countries, and neither is pepper spray or stun guns. So you must research your laws and know how you can legally defend yourself.