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Wondering what is computer security? Well, computer security is a process of detecting and preventing unauthorized use of computer systems. The detection process helps in determining whether a third party tried to break into your system, while prevention process ensures stopping unauthorized users, such as hackers, from accessing the computer system.
Hackers do not care about your identity, so they are always keen on discovering your new vulnerabilities in order to find a perfect time to attack your computer system to damage, steal or reformat your personal or confidential business data.
The complex nature of the software, sometimes make it difficult to test the security of the computer, making it easier to exploit the computer software and system. In this article, you will read why Computer Security is Important and more.
Importance, Types of Threats & Prevention
Here are some reasons why computer security is important for safe processing and storage of sensitive and confidential data.
Protection of Personal Data
To protect yourself or your business from any cyber-security risk, you must ensure protecting your personal information. IT security is the prime issue of computer security.
Let’s look at some ways to keep your information safe-
- Using Antivirus Software
It helps in discovering everyday threats and viruses and copes up with them. A latest Antivirus software with all latest updates can protect the system from any new threat.
- Using Strong Password
Password provide access to online accounts which enables the person to perform various activities such as online shopping, emailing or financial transactions. Keeping a strong password and different ones for different accounts can help protect your system from hacking. Use long passwords and something that cannot be easily guesses, such as your personal information.
- Apply Latest Updates & Patches
Any software could be potentially risky and vulnerable. Therefore, using the latest updates and patches made available from time to time by the software manufacturer, is an easy way to secure your computer.
- Firewall
Using a firewall can prevent hackers from attacking your systems and finding out new vulnerabilities in your system to take advantage. It helps in blocking out unauthorized traffic trying to access your computer. Also, enables internet security while preventing unauthorized applications and people from accessing your computer system.
- Avoid Phishing Emails
Make sure you delete texts and emails that you receive from people you do not recognize. The attachments in the emails and texts can consist of virus and is a beginning to an online breach.
- Secure Wi-fi, GPS and Bluetooth Connection
One important rule of computer safety is to protect your wi-fi and other connectivity systems such as Bluetooth and GPS from any third-party access. Always put a password for each connection and make sure to turn them off when not in use. Also, use WPA2 as your method of Wi-Fi security.
Protection of Organization Properties
Computer Security is important to ensure safety of organization’s computer data such as the assets, personal and financial transactional information of the business. Therefore, without using a computer software or IT security, it is impossible to secure your organizational properties.
Protection from Data Theft
Data theft refers to the art of stealing sensitive and confidential information including bank account details, credit card details, passwords and personal documents which are stored on the computer system, servers or other devices.
The following common reasons cause data breaches everyday-
- Weak & Stolen Credentials
Use of weak passwords cause 81% of cyber attacks worldwide and provides access to criminals to steal or infect data or the whole computer system. It is important to build stronger passwords for protection.
- Malicious Insiders
Insiders act as a threat to any person or organization. It could be a current or former employee, contractor, or someone pretentious, who has access to your system or data and misuses their position and access in a negative manner to steal data for malicious use.
- Vulnerabilities of Applications
It is a system flaw or weakness in an application that could be exploited in order to crack the security system of the computer to perform theft of resources possessed by an application, its creators or users.
- Human Error
Human error can be defined as negligence, lack of awareness or poor access control of the employees or the computer owner that makes the system vulnerable to attacks of hackers, viruses or provides an opportunity for data theft.
Therefore, to protect your system from data theft, you must secure your device by using end point security, locking down the computer, identifying critical data and using authentication.
Prevention from Viruses & Malware
It is essential to protect your systems from computer viruses and malware. Attack of a virus or malware can corrupt or delete the data, damage the hard disk and spread fast from one application or computer to another using your emails or other options.
Therefore, if you wish to protect your computers from such attacks, follow these tips-
- Using a Strong Password
- Keeping up-to-date Software
- Using Anti-Spyware Software
Anti-virus software alone is not enough, so, the use of anti-spyware helps in securing the internet and detects spyware programs in order to prevent one from getting in the computer. Unlike anti-virus software, this installs itself on the computer and sends important data such as passwords, SSN, credit card details stored on your system to its server.
- Avoiding Clicking Embedded Links
You must ensure to avoid clicking on any kind of attachment or embedded links in your emails if you receive one from an unknown sender. It usually has a virus attached that downloads itself to corrupt or delete your files and important data on the system.
- Using a Pop-Blocker
Using a pop-blocker on your web browser prevents unwanted pop-up windows and ads that could interfere or clutter your browsing experience. Most of these pop-ups are ads, malware and other viruses that could disrupt your system
Bottom Line
We hope this article helped you understand why Computer Safety is so Important. These tips will make you more prepared, cautious and protected against any kind of computer related threat when you are online next time!
