INTERNET SECURITY

Keith Bower

What is Internet Security

Internet security is the protection of a computer's internet account and files from intrusion of an outside user.

Ways of protecting ones self Passwords Routers Firewalls Anti-virus Anti-spyware Browser choice

Browser Choice One of the easiest things one can do know what

browser to use. Internet Explorer is the most popular and most used

web browser in the world. Which means it is a prime target for attacks.

Mozilla Firefox is not as possible but now too becoming popular, and may be the next victim to attacks.

Apple’s Safari and the new Google’s Chrome are not as popular and may be the safest browser to use. The one down part of these two are that since that are not as popular, they are not as widely supported.

Passwords

A password is a secret word or string of characters that is used in order to gain access to a resource.

Passwords help prevent just anyone from logging into your account.

The longer and more unique your password is, the harder it is to be cracked.

Routers

Using a router helps prevent people from gain access to your computer or files, especially one with a Network Address Translation which allows you to control what is sent out from and into your computer.

Firewalls

A firewall is a software program that blocks unauthorised ports on the computer.

This allows the user to record data of connection details.

Anti-virus There are some programs that help and there are others

made to destroy computer data. Some examples are Trojan horses, worms, and other

viruses. Trojan horses are programs which fool the user by

making them think it is doing one thing, when it is really finding your personal data.

Worms are programs which copy themselves over a computer network and then harm your system or network.

Viruses are programs which take over your personal files on your computer and either delete or corrupt the files.

Software programs such as antivirus software is the best way to protect your computer from viruses.

Anti-Spyware There are two major kinds of spyware: Spyware is downloaded software that hides

what it is doing which is sending data from your computer to the creator of such spyware.

Adware is annoying pop-ups that consistently invade your system. They usually contain or are advertisements. These programs secretly install themselves on your files and are permanently attached to them until found and deleted.