What is security exactly? Why is it important? Security is like reliability. Except when your talking about security you are talking about protection from other people. People that intend to do damage to you. It is a measurement of how much protection you have from danger, loss, or harm.
So what is Internet security? Internet security is just that, protection from people online that would do you harm. There are millions of people online everyday. And where there is people, you can be sure there are criminals.
Criminals online come in three different categories. Hackers which aim to invade your privacy, Crackers which go one step further and steal or damage your information, and malicious software which comes in the shape of viruses, spyware, and adware. Each require you to be on your guard when online. Each require a certain level of protection, a certain level of internet security.
What now? You know what internet security is. You know what threats are out there. So what to do about it? Here are three ways you can protect yourself from hackers, crackers, and malicious software online.
Start with your computer. It has all of your personal files on it. Protect them with a firewall. Firewalls scan the doorways that intruders may use to gain access to your PC. A firewall is essential for a wireless network. If you have a wireless network, you have more doorways.
The second thing you can do is install antivirus software. Viruses are born every day online. Antivirus software is constantly updated to defeat this ever changing threat.
Where you go, what you do, and your passwords are a high commodity among online thieves. They use software called spyware to get your information. To combat this, install antispyware. Make sure it comes packed with protection from Trojans, key loggers, and adware.