Meta Description: Protect your computer systems from unauthorized access, damage, or destruction. Read more about the 10 things you need to know to keep your computer secured.
Computer security is a term that covers the measures taken to protect computer systems from unauthorized access, damage or destruction. The goal of computer security is not only to prevent data loss and hardware theft, but also to minimize disruption caused by computer-related crime. In this article we’ll look at 10 things you need to know to keep your computer secured.
- Keep your computer up to date. Security patches are released all the time to help protect your computer from the latest threats. Make sure you have all the latest updates installed.
- Use a strong password and never reuse it. A strong password should be at least 8 characters long and include a mix of upper- and lower-case letters, numbers and symbols. When you reuse an old password, you make yourself vulnerable to a password attack.
- Install a good antivirus program and keep it up to date. Antivirus software can help protect your computer from viruses and other malware. You can download a free antivirus program from many websites. Some reputable antivirus programs are Avast, AVG, and Microsoft Security Essentials.
- Use a firewall. A firewall can help protect your computer from unauthorized access and hacking attempts. You can buy a firewall or use the one that comes built into your operating system.
- Be careful what you download and install. Be wary of free programs and downloads from unknown websites. These could contain malware that will infect your computer. There are also pop-ups and ads that can install malware on your computer without you even knowing it.
- Don’t click on links in email messages unless you are sure they are safe. Cyber criminals often send out phishing emails with malicious links. Many email scams try to trick you into opening an attachment or clicking on a link. This could allow the scammers to access your computer and steal your personal information. If you click on these, you could download malware or be taken to a fake website.
- Keep your computer backed up. If your computer is infected with malware or you lose your data, it’s important to have a backup copy so you can restore your computer to its previous state. You can back up your data to an external hard drive, a USB flash drive, or online.
- Use secure websites when shopping or banking online. When you are entering personal or financial information into a website, make sure the site is using https:// instead of http://. This means the site is using a secure connection and your information will be encrypted. Don’t visit websites that you don’t trust and don’t enter personal information into websites that don’t have a secure connection.
- Be careful about what you share on social media. Don’t post personal information like your address, phone number, or email address publicly online. Cyber criminals can use this information to steal your identity or scam you.
- Educate yourself about computer security. There are many resources available online to help you learn about computer security and how to protect your computer. The more you know, the better protected you will be. You can always seek computer help in American Fork if you have questions.
If something doesn’t seem right, it probably isn’t. If you are ever unsure about something, don’t hesitate to ask for computer help from a trusted source. Cyber criminals are always coming up with new ways to attack computers
