Computers began to penetrate North American homes from the late 1970s to the early 1980s. I still remember the first computer I saw. He was a Commodore 64.
I remember the day of 1982, I think, where my friend Bob walked out the door with his new Commodore 64 under his arm. He was proud as a peacock. His wife was not. We played with this gadget for hours and we still had not touched the surface of what he could do.
It was the time when computers were toys. Very few homes had them and nobody had to worry about hackers, viruses, malware, cookies, etc., as we do today. Heck, we had not even heard of such terms.
In such a short time, computers have gone from simple toys and entertainment sources to everyday necessities for most people. In less than 25 years, computers have become an integral part of today’s business and privacy world that we would struggle to survive without them.
Of course, everything that is so vital will always be the target of unscrupulous cyber-vandals. Online crime has become a major concern for law enforcement and the general public must prioritize the prevention of criminals. Hence the need to implement different types of computer security to protect our computers.
Every computer owner has to adapt some cybersecurity programs, otherwise they will not be online very long. And the threat is not limited to viruses and Trojans that infect your system. Online criminals also want access to your computer. They want any information that can help them steal your identity. They are looking for anything that can provide valuable financial information.
As a computer owner, you do not have to expect to see these criminal activities ruin your computing experiences. There are many things you can do yourself to make your computer safer. Let’s summarize just a few of them …
1) Install a good anti-virus software.
It’s a must today. You should never access the Internet or your e-mail without an active and up-to-date antivirus program. However, keep in mind that new viruses appear every day and that anti-virus programs have a huge task to deal with. It is essential that your anti-virus software is regularly updated so that it can recognize any new viruses created by humans.
Anti-virus programs are relatively inexpensive if you take into account the alternative cost of cleaning up an unnecessary mess or replacing a hard drive. There are even free anti-virus programs that you can download. Some are as good as some paid computer security products.
2) Have appropriate firewalls installed.
To understand firewalls, think about your home, especially if it’s new or recently renovated. Building codes require the installation of a special firewall called a firewall. These firewalls are installed in case of fire and this type of wall panel prevents the fire from spreading from one room to another, at least until help arrives.
The firewalls on your computer are pretty much the same. These are defensive fortifications built into your system to help you stop the spread of any viruses or trojans that may be introduced into your system. These firewalls filter out unauthorized data from elsewhere, primarily the Internet, while allowing “good” data to enter your computer.3) Be careful with emails
Many viruses enter your computer via your email. Make sure you have strict and fast rules for incoming e-mail. For example, be very careful when opening e-mails from people you do not know and never open e-mail attachments. Often, an email sends the recipient an emergency message to open the attachment. Beware.
4) Be creative with passwords
The passwords you choose for e-mail, membership sites, your Cpanel web host, etc., must be more than simple. Never use personal information such as a phone number, postal address, bank PIN, etc. The reasons are pretty obvious.
Hackers are good enough to crack passwords, so you need to be creative and follow a few rules when creating them. Think of them as keys that unlock a closet. Almost all keys can be duplicated and used for criminal purposes. That’s what pirates do. But you can take some steps to minimize this threat.
a) Never share your password with anyone.
b) Make all your passwords at least 8 characters long.
c) Give meaning to your passwords. The craziest, the better.
d) Use a variety of letters (uppercase and lowercase), numbers, symbols, special characters, etc. in each password.
e) Keep a list of each site where you have a password and save the password for this site.
f) Change your password regularly. This is ideal if you change the password at the same time. For example: Change the passwords every 3 months on the first day of the third month. Change each password at this time. In this way, none is missing. Keep track of each date you changed your passwords. This prevents you from staying too long without change.
5) Back up your computer data regularly
This is a fundamental rule to which all experienced users adhere. All backups must be performed on a CD, DVD, or other external device. The idea here is that if something happens to your system or you lose your hard drive, you still have all your data elsewhere that can be reloaded into your computer.
6) Never allow file sharing from your computer.
This is one of the most dangerous practices you can allow. Keep all other parts outside your computer.
7) Disconnect from the Internet
By disconnecting from the Internet when your computer is not in use, you prevent others from accessing your system.
8) Keep up-to-date security updates
It’s easy to do these days. You can do this by accessing the site hosted by your security provider. They have tons of news about IT security regarding current security issues. Many even have computer security courses to follow. In this way, you are well aware of the new tactics of online criminals and you have the means to reduce the threat to your system.
IT security is really up to you. Many take this question too lightly until the day when all “H ….” are unleashed. So you rush into confusion looking for someone to fix everything. The fact is that, most often, no one should be in this kind of situation. With a good security system and some personal diligence, you can avoid 99.9% of this type of problem.