How To Safeguard Your Computer Against Online Threats

Your computer is like the human body. It is susceptible to viruses, malicious codes and other threats from the cyber world that can infect and destroy its data. Cyber crime is on the rise and just like new diseases in the real world, cyber criminals and hackers engineer new viruses and programs every now and then to intrude into people's computers in order to hack and steal sensitive stored data. There is no cause for concern however as there are certain precautions you can take to protect your computer from the menace of online threats and intrusions. Antivirus - With the present technological advancement, hackers have become more malicious. They release new viruses and worms online that get installed on the computers of unsuspecting users. This leads to an epic loss of data and in worst cases results in a crash as these viruses wipe out all crucial system files from the computer. However, installing an effective antivirus program can protect your computer from these online threats. Once installed the antivirus program will automatically secure your computer by individually scanning all files and folders. If any viruses or malicious threats are detected, the antivirus program would notify you and quarantine the infected file in a safe location on your computer. Anti spyware - Spyware is one of the stealthiest online threats that quite often goes undetected by the user. Spyware are created by unscrupulous online marketers who use the program as a behavioral tracker to keep tabs on the type of websites you visit so that they can decide which product you would most likely purchase. Spyware is harmful for your computer as it changes your settings and drastically slows it down. They usually install themselves in the guise of tool-bars or enter your computer directly from certain websites. Installing Anti spyware software would shield your computer from this menace. The Anti spyware software gets activated the moment you turn on your computer and constantly monitors and scans your files and folders for any spyware that might be present. Firewall - Firewall is a basic default security setting found on every Windows supported computer. When activated, it monitors the stream of data that is relayed from the Internet to your computer and vice versa. The firewall scans all applications that are connected to the Internet and prompts you with a message if it notices a suspicious unidentified program. It is a fairly effective security measure that is best supplemented by a potent antivirus program for maximum security. In addition to the methods mentioned above, you can follow these simple precautions: -Always scan for viruses before downloading an email attachment -Never open an unknown email attachment as it could most likely be a virus -Always ensure to run a virus scan before opening or installing a downloaded file or program from the Internet. -Avoid clicking on indiscriminate pop ups that appear on your browser window. Keeping these basic preventive measures in mind, you can ensure complete protection for your computer from the peril of online threats.

Kachalla Kolomi is an Internet Marketer and Infopreneur. He has researched and written several articles in various fields. Some of his articles which are related to how to safeguard your computer against online threats can be found at http://www.makemoneyonsite.net/computer/index.php one of the web's leading info websites.