The term 'Internet security' has different definitions, but there are some concepts and features that have commonality.
Firewall
Consider living in a gated community. The security guard at the guardhouse determines what traffic enters and leaves the community and, with your permission, who is allowed to visit you. Members of the community with appropriate access can come and go as they wish. A firewall performs a function similar to that of the guard, except that it is a bit more efficient and does not fall asleep.
Simply put, the firewall's function is to prevent unauthorised traffic getting to your computer via the Internet and allow access to pre-authorised 'traffic' (inbound and outbound bits of electronic data from your computer).
The firewall can be in the form of a piece of hardware or software. For most home users this will take the form of a piece of software a firewall usually comes pre-installed with more recent operating systems, acquiring a third-party solution is recommended.
Chat Rooms
Although you use chat rooms to 'socialise' online, you sometimes have no idea who you are 'socialising' with. This becomes even more dangerous when teens and minors are involved.
There have been numerous reported cases, mainly in the United States but also in Jamaica, of minors being taken advantageof by criminals and pedophiles. Quite often, the victim gets lured into the attacker's web of deception over a period of time. Wouldn't it be great if a parent or guardian had the ability to monitor the victim's activity before they became a victim? Well, the activities in these chat rooms can be monitored discreetly and indiscreetly. There are a number of software programmes that allow you to monitor your child's activity online.
A home-page hijacker is a programme that enters your computer, normally as a virus, and constantly changes your home page and search results to where it wants you to go. It does this by either changing your start-up folders or registry run key on your computer so that each time you restart your computer it resets itself. You may consider this a minor Internet security risk but the reality is that your personal computer has been compromised.
As long as the hijacker programme remains on your computer, no matter how often you change your homepage settings, the hijacker changes it back. The obvious solution is to detect and remove the virus.
If you surf the Internet on a regular basis, it is likely that you have been exposed to some attempt at stealing your identify. The attempt normally comes in the form of an email or while visiting a website you are told that you have won something or that someone wants to give you a free gift.
Identity Theft
Some of these attempts are referred to as 'phishing' where the email received seems to be coming from your bank or a trusted vendor. The email usually suggests that your account with the company has been compromised and you need to reconfirm your information. Other attempts include emails informing you that your loan has been approved (which you did not apply for), you have won the lottery, or that the sender has money but cannot retrieve it without your help ('Nigerian' scam).
You may be asking yourself if this really works. The answer is 'yes'. There are two goals for most of these attempts: primarily to get you to voluntarily submityour personal information; and the secondary goal is to steal as much information about you as possible.
The latter is usually achieved when, out of curiosity, you start clicking on links to see what will happen. As you follow these links, programmes are being copied to your computer that will track your online activity and send back information to the programme's owner.
To avoid these challenges, simply delete these emails when you receive them, do not let your curiosity get the better of you. Remember, if it's too good to be true, then it is.
Viruses have been around since the inception of the Internet. It is mandatory that you have an anti-virus programme installed on your computer. Most persons, however, do not keep their programmes updated.
Defensive system
Persons who create viruses are constantly trying to improve them in order to beat any defensive system that you may have installed on your computer. Similarly, anti-virus software companies are constantly improving their programmes to defeat all attacks. Therefore, having outdated anti-virus software is like taking expired medication for an illness.
There are many more ways that your security can be compromised online. However, having the appropriate security programmes installed on your computer and using a little common sense should reduce your chance of being a victim.
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