What are the threats to your security on the Net?

First a shocking notice. Your computer is like a soft Swiss cheese when it comes to security. There are thousands upon thousands of ways to access the information you store or transmit thru your computer. Today's PC are, and will probably always be, inherently insecure. Anybody, with a little malice in them, can seat themselves in front of your computer at work and within a few minutes access your most sensitive information such as bank statements, personal e-mail, medical journals, etc. And! If you decide to go online even more dangerous beasts abound!

In essence your computer consists of a hard disk where the information is stored, a screen and a keyboard thru which you communicate with the computer, and lastly a connection thru which you communicate with other computers. All these parts must be secured to achieve total security. The hard disk must be secured against unauthorized access and copying. You must also protect yourself against unauthorized LogIn and you must secure your communications over the Net.

A computer communicates with the outside world via 65,000 so-called ports, a virtual door through which your computer reaches out to the Net. Hackers can use homemade software to scan the Net for open ports on your computer. You need to either close or closely monitor all these ports on your computer. If a hacker enters your computer they can read your information, run your computer from the outside and cause general havoc.

In short, you need to secure your LogIn, storage of information, your communication and also protect yourself against viruses.

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