Don’t Get Hacked: Why Protecting Yourself From Hackers And Computer Viruses Is Easier Than You Think

Knowing how to use the Internet in the 21st century can only be confused with having a superpower. It can do things that people thought 30 years ago only the Jetsons could do: send letters without the need for postage, start your car from your phone, operate traffic lights, and fire, police, and ambulance notification systems. The world is your oyster. However, like any superpower, if all this control is put in the wrong hands, personal and public safety is called into question.

I try to use the Internet with caution and I have a hard time understanding why someone would hack into your computer or spread a virus. But, just last week, I fell victim to Viagrus (an email virus promoting Viagra). True, this email spammer does not cause any real damage to my computer, but there is sustained damage to my dignity.

Moments after opening Viagrus, it was sent to all the friends and family in my contact list. My dad, brother, and husband didn’t miss a beat: Was I trying to send them a not-so-subtle signal? No, dad, I’m not looking for another brother. No, it’s not a track. The jokes flooded in and within a few days I was off Viagrus and a little wiser too.

Although my situation could be resolved with some awkward banter between father and daughter, brother and sister, it got me thinking: With so many hackers and viruses floating around the internet, the need to understand what viruses are and how they affect your virtual world is more important. today than ever. Unfortunately, computer security is rarely taken as seriously as it should be. So listen. Keeping your information safe is easy, just follow these steps.

To hack

To understand what hacking is, think of it like a virtual home invasion. A masked villain is infiltrating his computer to steal what is rightfully his: his virtual property. Once hackers get in, they can alter important information, delete key files, and even bring down an entire network of computers.

Very often, hackers break into large consumer websites. The goal: steal bank account and credit card information. Consider these tips for your Internet safety:

• Use a firewall. Although hackers often hit the websites of large companies, that doesn’t mean that home networks are completely safe. With a firewall installed, you can control your security and filter what information on the Internet is safe and what is not.

• Be careful when giving out personal information on the Internet. We hear it all the time, but do we really listen? Use software to keep information secure, and only provide your information if you trust the company. Check the BBB Business Review before buying from a company you don’t have direct knowledge of.

• Ignore your preconceived notions. Kids hack too. It’s hard to imagine a teenager having the power and knowledge to bring a computer network to its knees, but it has been done. According to Martha Stansell-Gamm, head of the Department of Justice’s Intellectual Property and Computer Crime Section, an 18-year-old “instructed 7,000 computers to attack Microsoft networks.” Teach your children safe computer practices, just like you would teach them that robbing a bank or driving drunk is wrong. The fact that it is virtual does not mean that the consequences are also virtual.

virus

Viruses are similar to hacking in that they exist to damage or destroy your computer’s infrastructure. However, as much as its name implies, a virus is like a common cold. It’s easily moved from one computer to another over the Internet with nothing more than the click of a button or the opening of an email. Once it gets as far as it can go, the virus takes over the host computer.

Unfortunately, for their victims, viruses often infect your computer before you know what you did wrong.

• Do not open suspicious emails. It’s relatively common knowledge that you shouldn’t open an email that advertises “FREE FREE FREE” or “CHEAP VIAGRA” in the subject line, but the email virus landscape has changed in recent years. Viruses can now appear as if they came from someone in your contacts. Be sure to monitor subject lines, even if you know the sender, and if you fall victim to an email virus, immediately warn your contacts because they are the next target. After that, change your password frequently for the next few weeks.

• Back up your information. Viruses may affect just your email, but all too often they spread throughout your computer. While buying a new computer can be painful, losing pictures, documents, and music can hurt even more. Once a month, once a week, even once a day, take the time to back up information you can’t live without.

In short, use your powers for good, but remember that the internet is home to plenty of Lex Luthors waiting in the shadows for a chance to wreak havoc on your virtual life.