Understanding Some Computer Security

Found a project website by a student to student ^^ where the purpose is to teach different aspects of computer security. Many PC users found it is not safe to go Internet as hacker can hack into your lappie. But what the hacker really hack? So here I guess just simply briefing about the computer security. When you understand about it, you should know how to prevent them ^^ Good Luck~

First of all we start from Firewalls

Firewalls monitor incoming and outgoing online internet traffic on your computer. They examine incoming and outgoing data, acting like a filter to strain out the unwanted data and connections from the wanted data and connections. There are many excellent firewalls available for downloading off the internet for little or no charge.

A Firewall works similar to a door. It lets good things in and keeps the bad things out. Good firewalls will actively block any malicious incoming traffic while still allowing you to use the internet. Most firewalls will also prevent your computer from connecting to unwanted servers and from sending personal data to other computers or internet sites.

Now move to Internet Security

A major part of Internet security is having a firewall and anti-virus software. If a person stays on secure sites, and doesn't give out credit card numbers to any unsecure site to buy anything, they should be okay. When buy things on the Internet, one should stay on well-known sites with many users and traffic. This makes it harder for hackers to find credit card numbers and personal infromation. The software that is used by corporations is constantly getting better. It is more secure, almost impossible to hack into, and has excellent overall security. Encryption is used the popular web browsers, which makes it more secure.

What is Encryption?

Encryption is a security technique used to help prevent information from being intercepted on the internet. Encryption involves encoding any information sent between two computers so that only those two computers can read and understand the information. If a third party should happen to intercept the data, it would be illegible and completely useless without the key to unlock the code. Today, most popular browsers such as Netscape and Microsoft Internet Explorer contain encryption capabilities.

What to do when Downloading Security?

When downloading software or any data make sure you are on a trusted site. Also a firewall is a good protector from invasions through downloads. Anti-virus software is also a must when it comes to downloading any information or software from the internet. The anti-virus software can scan what you are downloading to make sure there are no viruses in the information or software you are receiving (I'm personally using Avast Anti-virus).

What Software?

Along with a firewall, software is the next most important block against hackers, viruses, etc.  The most commonly used items today include: anti-trojan software and anti-virus software.

Anti-Trojan software reveals spys and hackers that are invading your computer privacy. A trojan is a program that is made up of two parts, the client and the server. Once you activate the server(clicking on it) it hides itself in your computer and opens all ports allowing hackers to access your computer. Some trojans steals passwords and send them to hackers through email. Also, some trojans allow the hacker to get into the hard drive which is very dangerous. But, the most dangerous and complicated trojan is the remote administration trojan, through this, the hacker can do about anything-seeing everything you type, all your passwords, dial up accounts, and pretty much anything they want.

Anti-Virus Software finds and deletes viruses from our computer files, and most anti-virus software will update itself for new viruses. Even if you have anti-virus software you should keep back-up files of your important data.

More info in Anti-Virus

Even before a person connects their computer to the internet they should have an excellent anti-virus software. Most of the good software out there today has a remote server that can automatically update your virus protection.

You can also install a scanner that stays in your memory and scans all files before you open them, this is especially handy when using floppy disks.

To fully fight viruses you must know how they work. How they infect other files. Viruses can be made by overwritting the beginning of the file replacing it with their own infected code; usually these viruses are easy to detect because the program itself won't work, just the virus will. They also can be made adding a jump to the end of the file, where its code is located, and then continuing with a jump back to the beginning where it left off; these are usually harder to detect except they use a little bit more memory. The last type is the virus attached to the beginning of the file, but it doesn't change the makeup of the original. This the hardest to detect but this depends on how well it is written.

To Anti-Hacking

The only way to make a computer 100% hacker proof is to disconnect it from the internet or turn it off. Since this simply isn't feasible, the security-minded computer user attempts to make it 99% secure. There are a few common ways to accomplish this task.
They are:

    * Firewalls
    * Software
    * Basic Computer Precautions

Our information on firewalls is on our firewall page.

The information on the may types of software is on our software page.

The basic computer precautions to follow are:

    * Don't give out e-mail address to someone you don't know. This can cause unwanted emails or advertising material you don't want (spam).
    * The opening of any mail-not just attachments-is potentially dangerous to your computer. Even just the previewing of an infected email can do the damage.

Well, a lot more to discuss in prevention hackers, advised to do more searching in various website. That's all for today ^^

Useful link prevent hack I, II, III