Every month of October marks National Cybersecurity Awareness Month (NCAM). The NCAM campaign is used to bring awareness for users who are unaware of the latest virus and malware threats. Many users think that installing antivirus software is enough to protect their machine. The Windows operating system also comes with an internal firewall and antivirus application, which is also a part of users’ false sense of security. However, security measures require user education and identification of threats when browsing the Internet.
Installing Antivirus Software is Sufficient
Antivirus software is a commonly known requirement for Internet security. However, the myth that antivirus installed is all that is needed for protection is dangerous for Internet surfers. Installing antivirus software is the start of Internet security. Constant installation of the latest virus definition files is required. Most reputable antivirus software has monthly updates for definition files. Download them to ensure the computer can recognize newest threats.
Nothing Valuable is on the Computer
Even a laptop used for minor editing and writing can lead to stolen information. Although the user can often forget about it, casual use of a computer can also lead to identity theft. If the computer has a network card, and it’s used for Internet connectivity, it can lead to a breach on the machine’s security. Some users only use a computer for email retrieval. Email is a point for hackers to send phishing emails that can lead to the theft of passwords for banking and finance websites.
Browsers Don’t Make a Difference
Unfortunately, Internet Explorer users are more susceptible for malware installed on their computer. Google Chrome and Firefox use Google’s malware detection alerts. If a user tries to access a website that has been listed as an attack site, the browser pops up a bright red interface that leaves a warning. Internet Explorer has no interface, so users are left susceptible to accessing websites that have been compromised. If the user chooses IE as a browser, be careful when accessing unknown domains.
The Department of Homeland Security disputes this train of thought. This is a common thought for home users. Several scripts are available that allow others to find security holes on a computer. These people are called “script kiddies.” Script kiddies run common programs that find the security issues on machines that don’t have the latest security patches. For the best protection, purchase an antivirus program that protects against all types of hack attacks.Hackers Only Target Specific People
The best protection against Internet malware is avoiding websites that are suspicious. Choose a web browser like Google Chrome or Mozilla Firefox to ensure the latest websites listed as attack sites are blocked when finding them in the search results. Don’t have a false sense of security and ensure the latest definition files are applied.
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