10 Computer Security Facts You Must Know

In the current highly digitized world, we spend hours working on the computer submitting school
essays, shopping online, socializing with friends through social media platforms, sending emails to
clients, building websites, and the list continues. Unknown to millions of people from all across the
globe is that this lifestyle predisposes us to many cyber threats. It is imperative to ensure that your computer is secured when you are online and offline. Here are ten computer security facts that you must know to stay safe.
Computer Security Facts
Ten Computer Security Facts You Must Know

10. Just because it’s new doesn’t mean it’s safe

When the new laptop finally lands on your doorstep, everything looks and smells fresh and clean as you expected, but that is not to say that it is not infected with any malware or the security firewall is already intact. The myth that computers begin their lives completely cyber-proof and only become less secure over time has been discounted by many security experts including government officials. Most of the new computers come with programs such as Superfish, a vulnerable adware, already installed on them. Some also have pre-installed backdoors that are used by law enforcement agencies to track users’ online activity and data.

9. Strong Passwords Can Prevent Cyber AttacksOver the years, cyber criminals have devised new ways of exploiting software flaws to collect personal data. Simple social engineering scams are now prevalent across the globe. The only way to prevent falling prey to these tactics is by using strong passwords and activating a two-factor authentication system.
8. Best Software are Vulnerable to New Malicious SoftwareMost people imagine that the top rated software and networks in the world today are 100% safe. Paris
Tabriz, the head of Google Chrome security team has repeatedly stated that in the current digital world, no software is 100% secure. Every day, hackers work hard and smart to come up with systems to overpass the firewalls on the software. The same case applies to networks; none is completely secure and immune to cyber-attacks.

7. Apps and Websites Should Use HTTPS Coding Language
There are countless rumours about HTTPS, one of them being that it slows down the functionalism of
applications and it’s only ideal for websites that require a high level of security. Unknown to most
people is that HTTPs make it difficult for hackers and even government surveillance programs to collect personal data from websites and computers. Without it, hackers would have an easy time modifying the computer, installing spyware, and collecting personal data such as credit card information when you shop online.

6. Cloud Presents New Security Problems
Millions of people from all across the globe use the cloud to store their personal data. You use it to store emails, photos, medical records, bank statements, videos and the list is endless. The documents are much safer stored in the cloud than in your computer. However, it is presents hackers with unlimited opportunities to collect personal data and corrupt the stored files. Therefore, it is imperative to come up with ways of protecting your cloud. Apart from seeking cloud services from a company that is well-known for having a robust security system, use strong password and two-step authentication to protect your information from unauthorized access.

5. Install Software Updates Frequently
Unexpected pop-ups reminding you to update software can be annoying. Some of the updates are huge and take hours to be installed on the program. Nonetheless, it is highly recommended to install all updates to not only gain access to new features but also to seal any loopholes on the software that can be utilized by hackers to install malware on your computer.

4. Difference between Darknet and DeepwebMost people use the words Darknet and Deepweb interchangeably. There is a difference between the
two. Darknet refers to all websites that are not indexed by search engines and so they are not accessible through the conventional browsers and engines. On the other hand, the Deepweb is used to refer or describe the non-“www” networks that can only be accessed using a particular software.

3. Beware of Social Media Malware
The large number of people who use social media on a daily basis to socialize has attracted the attention of hackers who are keen on collecting personal data such as passwords without raising eyebrows through the platforms. Facebook and Twitter are havens for hackers who post fake advertisement links and posts. Clicking on these links can automatically download and install malware to your computer. The hacker can then remotely control all the computers that download the software and use them to launch malicious attacks.
2. Unchecked Attacks
It is estimated that 80-90 million cyber-attacks take place per year. This statistics can be translated into 400 new attacks every minute. In spite of the fact that the government has established measures of identifying these attacks and combatting them, more than 70% of these attacks go unnoticed. There is a need for us to appreciate the importance of maintaining a high website security detail and preventing the attacks from occurring in the first place.

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1. Macs and Apple Applications are Susceptible to Attacks Too
There is a long-standing rumour that Macs and other software developed by Apple are not prone to
attacks and viruses like other conventional applications. It is the high time that we squash that rumour
to protect the current and future generation from attacks. The first thing to note is that hackers have no preference; they can attack virtually any operating system using their advanced surveillance systems. The bottom line is; Macs and other Apple software are not immune to the new era malware and cyber threats.
Indeed, keeping tabs on the new developments in the computer security realm is essential if you want
to stay safe from malware and other malicious software. All is not lost; you can stay safe while online or offline by keeping in mind the above facts and heeding to this advice.

Guest Post By:
Ken Wilson, 
a Tech Guru and Security Specialist at ThePCDoctor – Australia’s Number 1
Computer Support company.

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