Uninvited Users at the Keyboard: Who's been Toying with your Computer?

Someone could be using your computer and you may not even know it. That intruder could be someone sneaking into your home or work office and accessing your online accounts. But the more insidious trespassers are cyber intruders who hack into your computer from a remote location. They can access your sensitive financial information, use your computer to launch attacks on other systems, and even read your email.

Computer and Internet technology is everywhere in our daily lives. We use it for work, play and communication. We even get our music and movies via our PC. Unfortunately, too many people place automatic faith in technology and expect that their privacy won't be comprised. The truth is our computers are under constant siege by cyber-attacks. Computer security prevention measures are more than just a precaution; they are a necessity.

Electronic Tricks of the Trade
If intruders gain access to your computer, they can change your system configurations or infect your computer with a virus. Hackers are constantly devising novel ways to enter uninvited. In recent years, they've employed "Trojan horses" that trick you into installing programs that open access to your computer. They launch attacks that cause your computer to slow down or crash. They've employed computer codes (e.g., Java, JavaScript, and ActiveX) to gather information about your computer usage. They send email scams that try and trick you into giving up sensitive information such as passwords, and they attach viruses to emails.

By taking the relatively easy steps listed below, you can safeguard your computer:

• Employ preventive password strategies. Create alphanumeric passwords that are hard to crack. Create different passwords for every account. Change passwords often. Never give your password to anyone, even friends.
• Backup your data. As a protective measure against computer crashes, make sure you back up your computer often. You should do it once a day.
• Install virus protection software. But just don't leave it there. Check for virus updates. Use the software periodically to perform a virus scan on all of your files.
• Install a firewall. Firewalls place a protective barrier between your computer and the Internet. They are an absolute necessity if you use file-share programs to download music.
• Disconnect an idle system. Don't keep your computer online when you're not using it. Disconnect from the Internet or shut it down completely.
• Never open attachments from unknown sources. No matter how intriguing they appear to be, and how curious you are, delete the email.
• Download security patches from your software vendors. Hackers are always finding vulnerabilities in the most popular software programs.

The cyber-terrorists who create evil codes and destructive viruses are never going to go away. But if you take these steps, you can greatly reduce your chances of being attacked.