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Is My PC Vulnerable on the Internet?
No longer are viruses the only threat on the internet. In recent years other threats have evolved which include spyware, adware, hacking, identity theft, information theft, pop-ups and the loss of information. Let's begin with the basics. We all need to protect our PC in the same way we protect our home, car and bank account. We wouldn't give a stranger the keys to our car, home or bank account now would we. If you don't protect your PC it is like giving the keys to a stranger and letting him/her have full access to your PC. Once the stranger has the keys they can snoop around and take whatever they want. I know, your thinking how can they do this, my computer is in my house and my doors are locked. Well, today you can be anywhere in the world and access someone's computer via the internet. Since the introduction of cable modems and DSL everyone's PC is online all the time and accessible. Why do I need to protect my PC, I don't keep any important information on it? Ask yourself a couple of questions. 1. Do I bank online? If you answered yes to any of these questions then your PC is vulnerable. If you bank online then you are sending personal confidential information to your bank via the Internet. For Example: Let's say you are infected with spyware and you are typing in your account number plus password. A spyware installation can record key strokes and then send them off to a site on the internet. Now the person who setup the site has your account number and password to your bank. Here is one more example, if you answered yes to I let other people use my pc, here is what happens. The other person decides that they like this new cool piece of software. They download and double click on the exe, msi or whatever installs the software. The adware, spyware or virus installs. Now the infection is installed and now it can start stealing confidential information or cause havoc on your PC. You get onto the PC as always, since you don't know this has happened and start doing what you always do, type documents, go to chat rooms, do your banking online, reconcile your banking with quicken and all this time your confidential information is stolen and you are completely unaware that this occurred. The million dollar question, what do I do? Well, you can follow this approach. 1. Install a Spyware application and install and configure correctly. If you already have spyware application installed make sure it is up to date and make sure that is configured properly. 2. Install an Adware application and install and configure properly. If you already have adware application installed make sure it is up to date and make sure that is configured properly. 3. Install an AntiVirus application and install and configure properly. If you already have antivirus application installed make sure it is up to date and make sure that is configured properly. 4. Install backup software, why because if something does get through your defenses or delete something by accident you always have a way of retrieving the information. You should try to backup your system at least every other day. 5. Install Encryption software. This software will encrypt files like word docs, spreadsheets, banking file on quicken. This way if someone does steal your information they will not be able to read it. 6. Install a Firewall. The Firewall can either be software or hardware based. I would install both especially if you bring your laptop with you and connect to the internet at different locations. The Firewall will block hackers trying to scan your system while you are on the Internet. Many people have these applications installed but they do not configure them correctly. Just installing the application does not mean that the application is working properly to stop the threat/infection. On some applications you need to configure the setting to make the application work the way it was designed to. Find out how to configure and install the software properly either by reading a how to book or getting someone to help. If you already have the application installed make sure it is up to date and make sure that is configured properly. All of the software needs to be up to date and kept current. As new threats are release on the internet, all applications will need the current updates to fight these threats. If you would like to find out if you're PC is protected you can take the test. This will not harm your PC it just checks for vulnerabilities and lets you know if you passed or failed. The application is a single exe and DOES NOT NEED TO BE INSTALLED. All you need to do is run the test application and follow the instructions. Get Risk Assessment Tool All articles are written by HowtoPCGuru!HowtoPCGuru http://www.howtopcguru.com You may reproduce and use this article just so long as you add a link (http://www.howtopcguru.com) down at the bottom.HowtoPCGuru, All the latest articles, tools, news, file hosting and more!
MORE RESOURCES: Rewind and Reconnoiter: Is Climate Security Out in the Cold in the U.S. Intelligence Community? War on the Rocks Law Firms Fear Trump Orders Could Affect Security Clearances of Lawyers Who Are Military Reservists Military.com Restaurant owner hires security guards after quadruple shooting; residents wonder if it is enough WBAL-TV DHS arrests man in McKinney accused of making terroristic threats against Homeland Security Secretary, ICE NBC 5 Dallas-Fort Worth Kirtland Security Forces Detective Trains with APD to Strengthen Investigative Skills, Partnerships afgsc.af.mil AWS achieves Cloud Security Assurance Program (CSAP) low-tier certification in AWS Seoul Region Amazon Web Services Space Security Sentinel Via Satellite Milwaukee's Brady Street businesses increase security to improve safety FOX6 News Milwaukee Trump's national security adviser reportedly used his personal Gmail account to do government work TechCrunch Netanyahu says Israel will establish a new security corridor across Gaza to pressure Hamas - AP News DOJ grant supports study of the effects of school security equipment on student outcomes George Mason University Apple Head of Global Security found not guilty in bribery trial tied to concealed gun permits NBC Bay Area Planning for your IAM Roles Anywhere deployment Amazon Web Services Oracle's masterclass in breach comms: Deny, deflect, repeat theregister.com Law firms fear Trump orders could affect security clearances of lawyers who are military reservists ABC News Mike Waltz’s team set up at least 20 Signal chats for national security work – report The Guardian National Security Space Association's Marc Berkowitz Nominated to Serve as Assistant Secretary of Defense Space Coast Daily I sent hundreds of cold emails to find a US VC firm that would hire me as an immigrant. I'm glad I ended up at a small company. Business Insider Building a cybersecurity strategy that survives disruption Help Net Security Opinion: Alaska can increase its food security without an agriculture department Anchorage Daily News New allegations against the White House’s Waltz suggest Signal chat scandal isn’t over MSNBC News Waltz and staff used Gmail for government communications, officials say The Washington Post NYPD boosts synagogue security ahead of Passover as anti-Jewish crimes 'jump off the page' New York Post Israel's security is America's security. Americans should not ignore that - opinion The Jerusalem Post Apple security chief acquitted, mistrial for ex-undersheriff in Santa Clara County gun permit bribery case The Mercury News Charges Filed Against Former PUSD Security Guard Pasadena Now HPD, Homeland Security bust multiple game rooms FOX 26 Houston Opinion: Trump’s casual response to his administration’s security lapse Chattanooga Times Free Press Kratos Defense & Security Solutions (NasdaqGS:KTOS) Breaks Ground On New Hypersonic Facility Yahoo Finance New security system coming to Alaska’s Capitol building Your Alaska Link Burnet Middle School Security Officer Honored for Heroic Rescue of Trapped Driver in Car Fire TAPinto Glencoe based Security Bank & Trust Co. expands reach in Minnesota McLeod County Chronicle CyberQP Releases Groundbreaking Zero Trust Helpdesk Security Platform to Eliminate Standing Privileges Yahoo Finance National security implications of tariff announcement LiveNOW from FOX ISC West 2025 Show Floor Spotlight: BOSCH SECURITY AND SAFETY SYSTEMS Security Info Watch Parliament speaker Stefanchuk blocks Poroshenko’s US trip to international security conference, party says The Kyiv Independent Security by Design Requires Organizational Commitment BankInfoSecurity Security forces report 80% drop in Ramadan terror attacks, after West Bank crackdown The Times of Israel Pasadena school security officer accused of duct-taping 11-year-old girl's mouth shut for 'talking too much' ABC7 Los Angeles Women in Security: Alice DiSanto, VP of Marketing, Autonomous Solutions Inc. Security Sales & Integration ISC West 2025 Show Floor Spotlight: PROMETHEUS Security Info Watch New security body to combat hybrid threats eKathimerini.com Security firm Brinks Home sells Lancaster city location LancasterOnline Coral Gables commissioner raises concerns for security of elected officials NBC 6 South Florida Secure Passage and Sunflower Labs take security to the skies with autonomous drone integration Police1 Oracle Cloud security SNAFU latest: IT giant accused of pedantry as evidence scrubbed theregister.com Fight at maximum security unit precedes tour by state’s prison work group South Dakota Searchlight When will your Social Security benefits arrive in April? See 2025 payment schedule Democrat and Chronicle Why Active Directory’s 25-Year Legacy Is a Security Issue BankInfoSecurity Contrast Security Debuts 'Channel-First' Strategy Channel Futures Diversus Health adds new Security-Widefield location FOX21 News Colorado Marlink New Cyber Company to Meet Customer Demand for Security & Compliance - The Maritime Executive Marlink New Cyber Company to Meet Customer Demand for Security & Compliance The Maritime Executive |
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