Computer Security

Computer security risks have become a topic of interest to people who use and rely on computers for various reasons. We use computers at home and in our businesses. We use them to access the Internet, develop documents, send and receive e-mails, play games to name a few. As computers have become lighter, more compact and portable, they have also become more vulnerable to damage, loss, theft and computer security risks. The Internet has also greatly contributed to the increased Internet identity theft risks. In fact, identity theft risks and cases have drastically increased since the Internet was introduced in our daily lives. Ever since the Internet introduction to the greater society, the public has embraced and trusted the Internet and the computers that connect to each other on the World Wide Web. We are just now realizing how dangerous these computers can be if we trust them blindly and ignore computer security risks. I once remember speaking with one of my clients about a particular computer which I was auditing and I asked "how does the computer reach a certain conclusion?", and he very seriously replied "the computer knows". Trying to hold back my laughter, I asked "how does it know" and again he replied "it just knows" as if the computer had a mind of its own, which it does in a sense. Read the article for more details. I became convinced then that people trusted the computers blindly as if they were self created. People forget that humans developed computers and that we continue to make them smarter and faster. People also forget that all viruses, spams and phishing scams are also developed by fellow humans. Why? I don’t know. Maybe, we just need to prove to ourselves over and over again, that we can beat our own creation and to prove to the computers that we are smarter than they are. Or maybe, we need to create the malicious programs to create additional computer security risks for which we can then develop solutions and products to sell to our fellow humans. That being said and for whatever reasons, humans will continue to create smarter computers as well as malicious programs, and as they get smarter, the stakes get higher. We need to accept, and recognize the risks as they become known, and try to manage these computer security risks and prevent the loss or theft of our personal information to the best of our individual and collective ability. I believe people are getting smarter about the computers and the internet security risks and understand how these risks contribute to the identity theft problem. For those interested in managing the computer security risks, let’s explore a few suggestions on how to control such risks:

1- Limit storage of personal information on your computer at home or your business.

2- After you file your taxes using your computer and a third party software like Turbo Tax, print a copy for your records and remove the file from your computer.

3- Assign a password to each user of the same computer to limit access to sensitive areas. Review the password section for additional security tips.

4- Don’t take the computer around to public areas, vacations or business trips if you don’t have to. When and if you do, make sure the computer is in your possession at all times. For example, when you take your computer to a café, make sure you have someone you trust watch over your computer if you have to go to the bathroom.

5- Don’t leave the computer in your car. See the car security section for additional tips.

6- Don’t dispose of your computer without first making sure that all sensitive contents are cleared from the computer.

7- Don’t share your personal computer with others.

8- If you have to use your computer for storing personal and financial information, then avoid using that same computer to connect to the internet.

9- Install anti-virus software and update it regularly as updates become available.

10- Use a personal firewall on your laptop. Although some operating systems come with a personal firewall, you should use a good third-party personal firewall to secure your computer and prevent intruders from hacking back your system. This software is usually inexpensive and easy to install.

11- Apply patches to the operating systems as they become available. This could be done automatically by certain operating systems.

12- Use software to encrypt your sensitive files, so even if the computer is stolen, the stored information would be useless.

13- Have a plan to prevent laptop theft or loss, protect your mobile device and deal with its theft or loss when it occurs. More on laptop security in this page.

14- Develop, communicate, enforce and monitor a computer security policy for your business (or your family).

15- Educate your employees, family members, friends, agents, accountants, attorneys and others with whom you do business or allow handling of your sensitive information. Make sure every one is aware of the identity theft risks and how they can help deter this threat. You can find a few words about identity theft awareness here.

16- Recognize and delete without opening spam e-mails which are junk, unwanted, and unsolicited e-mails potentially containing malicious programs and information. Learn why spam is dangerous and what to do about them.

17- Create and use your online accounts carefully. Learn to better manage the online accounts.

18- Phishing is one of the latest internet scams to lure victims into giving away their personal information. Don't fall victim to phishing scams.



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