Computers are used to store almost all our information, and we use the internet everyday to collect and receive information. Computers and electronic data has become a part of our everyday lives, and we even trust our most valuable information and our safety in the hands of technology.

Understanding the risks involved…

A computer security risk is any action that could cause lost of information, software, data, processing incompatibilities, or cause damage to computer’s hardware; a lot of these are planned actions to do the most damage.

What are hackers and crackers?

The term hacker was actually known as a good word but now it has a very negative view.

A hacker is defined as someone who accesses a computer or computer network unlawfully. They often claim that they do this to find leaks in the security of a network.

The term cracker has never been associated with something positive this refers to someone how intentionally access a computer or computer network for evil reasons. It’s basically an evil hacker.

Securing your PC and you data

There is no known method for completely protecting a computer or computer network from computer viruses or cyber attacks, but a few simple steps could lower the risk and improve your computers overall security.

You don’t have to be an expert to keep your computer protected, all you need is a few basic applications that will protect your computer automatically, below is a small list of tools with specific features to help protect your computer and information.

• Firewalls

A firewall is basically a part of a computer system that is designed to stop and block unauthorized access to a computer or network. A good firewall can help to block viruses or any harmful or unauthorized programs to run.

Recommended Firewall Application

http://personalfirewall.comodo.com/free-download.html

• Anti-Virus

Also forms part of your computer system, a good anti-virus will protect your PC from viruses like, worms, Trojan horses and other common viruses. The anti-virus application has to be updated frequently to be able to identify and new viruses, so a quality registered anti-virus with an auto update feature would be best.

Recommended Anti-Virus Applications

http://www.avast.com/free-antivirus-download

• Anti-Spyware

Similar to an anti-virus application, it helps to eliminate and block spyware usually found on the internet. Spyware is a program that secretly detects data transfers between your PC and the internet, or capturing you information while browsing. Spyware can be a huge risk when valuable information gets leaked or stolen, like your credit card details.

Recommended Free Spyware and Registry Cleaners

http://www.iobit.com/download.html#freesoftware

• Passwords

Using secure and strong passwords is a must for everyone uses computers and password protected content. Using capital letters along with numbers and special characters will ensure a stronger password that’s not easily hacked by humans or programs. Never save your passwords on your computer unless you are using a secure password saver or application.

The number of internet users has greatly increased over the past few years and so have the number viruses, spyware and online fraud cases. For your own security and peace of mind, make yourself aware of the risks and take the steps to secure your information and computer from harm.

Recommended Password Keeper

http://keepass.info/download.html

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