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The following is a straightforward Q&A that can inform you of basic IT security and privacy issues. It can also help unravel some security jargon and provide other useful information to help protect you, your family or business online.
What is computer security?
Computer security is the process of preventing and detecting unauthorized use of your computer. Prevention measures help you to stop unauthorized users (also known as 'intruders') from accessing any part of your computer system. Detection helps you to determine whether or not someone attempted to break into your system, if they were successful, and what they may have done.
Why should I care about computer security?
We use computers for everything from banking and investing to shopping and communicating with others through e-mail or chat programs. Although you may not consider your communications 'top secret', you probably do not want strangers reading your e-mail, using your computer to attack other systems, sending forged e-mail from your computer, or examining personal information stored on your computer (such as financial statements).
Where can I get help?
Advice is readily available on all aspects on being online, from this site and from other sites - look under your specific concern. You can also contact your Internet Service Provider (ISP).
Who would want to break into my computer at home?
Intruders (also referred to as hackers, attackers, or crackers) may not care about your identity. Often they want to gain control of your computer so they can use it to launch attacks on other computer systems.
Having control of your computer gives them the ability to hide their true location as they launch attacks, often against high-profile computer systems such as government or financial systems. Even if you have a computer connected to the Internet only to play the latest games or to send e-mail to friends and family, your computer may be a target.
Intruders may be able to watch all your actions on the computer, or cause damage to your computer by reformatting your hard drive or changing your data.
How easy is it to break into my computer?
Unfortunately, intruders are always discovering new vulnerabilities (informally called 'holes') to exploit in computer software. The complexity of software makes it increasingly difficult to thoroughly test the security of computer systems.
When holes are discovered, computer vendors will usually develop patches to address the problem(s). However, it is up to you, the user, to obtain and install the patches, or correctly configure the software to operate more securely.
Also, some software applications have default settings that allow other users to access your computer unless you change the settings to be more secure. Examples include chat programs that let outsiders execute commands on your computer or web browsers that could allow someone to place harmful programs on your computer that run when you click on them.
How do I know if my PC is safe?
If you have anti-virus software on your PC (and keep it up to date), and are sensible about opening e-mail attachments, and have the file sharing option in Windows turned off (unless you need it for use in an office or home network) then your PC is reasonably safe. Try not to leave the PC connected to the Internet when it is not in use. You should also consider installing a firewall, this is particularly important if you have a permanent connection e.g. broadband access. As a further measure, make sure you keep back up copies of anything important on floppy disk, CD-ROM or another storage device then if you do fall victim to a virus or your computer breaks down you can retrieve your data.