Computer Tip of the Day: Security

Do you frequently find yourself wondering how a hacker could launch a devious assault on your computer? Do you know what warning signs to look for? If you don’t, isn’t that OK? Isn’t it normal to not know? Yes, it is normal…however, in today’s world of ever-evolving threats to the security of your computer, your data, and your personal security, you need to know what the signals of a potential attack could be.

Email

Now, you might think of your email as your friend, after all, isn’t it how you communicate with your family, friends, and coworkers? How could something you use as a medium of communication with the most important people in your leaf be used against you? Unfortunately, email is a favored weapon in a hacker’s arsenal. An attacker can obtain your email address in many ways, but ultimately how your cyber assailant obtained your email doesn’t matter, what matters is that attackers can and do learn your address, and can send you malicious emails.

Never open an attachment or respond to an email from someone you don’t know, some of these emails can be outrageously easy to detect as a potential attack, but some may seem quite legitimate, and can even appear to be from people you know, ranging from Grandma to a coworker. Just open the attachment if you are expecting to receive it, or can confirm it is from the person it claims to be from.

Programs

So, now that you have learned about the dangers that emails can bring, it is time to learn about the dangers associated with programs that claim to be one thing…but are often another. One of the most common are programs that claim to clean up your computer or make it run faster. While these programs may claim to be beneficial, and can even do what they claim, they are quite nefarious and are a trojan horse that a cunning attacker can use to gain access to your computer.

While antiviruses and programs that speed up your computers are most often found to be malicious, these types of programs can take any form, some even claim to be legitimate programs such as Microsoft Word, or a major browser. Always download your programs from an established source, and do some research on the program before your download!

Physical Security

Finally, we reach the most basic, but most commonly overlooked form of security, physical security. Have you ever walked away from your computer where someone else can have unauthorized access? Do you have a simple, easy-to-guess password? It only takes a minute for someone to quickly guess your password and access data on your computer, or for someone to simply walk away with your prized computer, and everything on it. Once an attacker has physical access to your computer, it becomes a walk in the park for him to cause damage.

The modern digital landscape is awash in pitfalls, traps, enemies, and dangers of all sorts. Ranging from email to trojan horse programs, to someone physically threatening your computer, there are innumerable methods attackers can use. However, if you take basic security measures to protect your security and privacy, you will make an attacker’s job much more challenging. Even if your computer becomes compromised, contact us here at Bluewater Technologies and we will set up our expert team to work on preventing and cleaning up any mess that your assailant has made!