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Computer Technology For Everyday People
by Trey Aldrich
http://www.fcbpeople.com
If you are like most people out there you probably use a
computer on a regular basis, maybe even every day.
Just because you spend time in front of a computer does
not make you an information technology expert by any
means, but the issues surrounding computer security is
something that most people, especially regular
computer users, should be aware of.
With the advent of the information superhighway, ~smart~
cards, and digital identification, privacy and
security in the online (and offline) worlds is becoming
a critical priority. Your name, and much of your personal
information is floating around somewhere if you have ever
filled out a form online, given someone your email
address (or your phone number, or your home address
for that matter), or entered a contest put on by a local
business. Chances are you don~t know who OWNS the
database, and you probably don~t even have the legal right
to research who owns it (or even ask who they have sold it
to). For these reasons alone, it~s crucial that you
understand, at least at on a basic level how to protect
security and privacy of your online experience.
At the very least we all need to install anti-virus and
anti-spy ware software on our personal computers. These are
two ways that identity thieves get inside our systems to
steal information. Viruses and spy ware can locate
sensitive information about us and our financial details
inside our personal files. Using our credit cards
indiscriminately online can also be compromised as the
account numbers may also be stored on our hard drives. We
all must be more aware of viruses and malware (malicious
software) and protect our computers.
Another frequently overlooked item is the
computer firewall. Firewalls come two forms: hardware and
software. They should be used on any broadband internet
connection. Some people in the computer security industry
recommend running firewall software regardless of the type
of internet connection you have, even dial up.
The best protection from virus or malware invasion is
knowing the enemy. We must all be responsible for our own
computers and learn all we can about any threats. Two good
examples are to know not to download anything from a site
you aren~t familiar with, and to not ever open email
attachments from strange addresses. You should even scan
any attachments from friends or relatives as they may
unwittingly pass a virus on. Your computer may be clean but
maybe theirs isn~t.
With a little caution, and a bit of patience, anyone, no
matter what their skill level with computers can have a
safe and secure online experience.
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