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Computer Security – Should you be concerned?

These days, you hear a lot of warnings and recommendations on protecting your computer and personal information against all kinds of Internet threats from viruses and spyware to email scams and identity theft. But do you really need to be concerned about your home computer though? The answer to this is a resounding YES!

Why should you care about computer security?

We use computers for everything from banking and investing to shopping and communicating with others through email or chat programs. Although you may not consider your communications "top secret," you probably do not want strangers reading your email, using your computer to attack other systems, sending forged email from your computer, or examining personal information stored on your computer (such as financial statements).

Who would want to break into my computer at home?

Intruders (also referred to as hackers, attackers, or crackers) may not care about your identity. Often they want to gain control of your computer so they can use it to launch attacks on other computer systems.

Having control of your computer gives them the ability to hide their true location as they launch attacks, often against high-profile computer systems such as government or financial systems. Even if you have a computer connected to the Internet only to play the latest games or to send email to friends and family, your computer may be a target.
Intruders may be able to watch all your actions on the computer, or cause damage to your computer by reformatting your hard drive or changing your data.

How easy is it to break into my computer?

Unfortunately, intruders are always discovering new vulnerabilities (informally called "holes") to exploit in computer software. The complexity of software makes it increasingly difficult to thoroughly test the security of computer systems.
When holes are discovered, computer vendors will usually develop patches to address the problem(s). However, it is up to you, the user, to obtain and install the patches, or correctly configure the software to operate more securely. You stand a much better chance of preventing computer break-ins if you keep your computers up-to-date with patches and security fixes.

Also, some software applications have default settings that allow other users to access your computer unless you change the settings to be more secure. Examples include chat programs that let outsiders execute commands on your computer or web browsers that could allow someone to place harmful programs on your computer that run when you click on them.

Most users are unaware of PC infections.

Still think you’re home computer isn’t a target or is sufficiently protected? If so, then you’re like most home Internet users - you are aware that these threats do exist, but either mistakenly believe you are not affected by them, or are so confused by all of the technical jargon, you simply don’t know what you’re supposed to do. Recent studies of home computer users confirm this and reveal some very disturbing statistics.

One such study, funded by America Online and the National Cyber Security Alliance, found home users mostly unprotected from online threats and largely ignorant of the dangers. AOL and the NCSA sent technicians to 329 homes to inspect computers. Here are some of their findings:

• 77% Think they are safe from online threats but…
• 67% of computers lack current antivirus software, 1 in 5 are infected with viruses
• 80% of home computers infected with spyware/adware; 88% didn’t know they were infected
• 49% of broadband users lack any firewall protection

  The full report is available on the NCSA’s site.

In another survey of home computer users conducted by Bentley College, respondents were asked about general Internet security issues. The Bentley/Harris Interactive survey results are as follows:

• 90% of respondents had antivirus software installed on their home PCs, but 10% never or rarely updated it.
• 49% were unaware that Internet browsers may contain software flaws.
• 44% did not know that criminal hackers could use their home computers to send spam.
• 40% do not understand how spyware works.
• 30% do not understand how computer viruses work.

The survey contacted 2,952 adults, nationwide and was accurate plus or minus 2 percent. Harris estimates that 139 million people are online, so each percentage point equals roughly 1.39 million people.

So what do you do to safeguard your computer?

The bad news is that you probably cannot plan for every possible risk. The good news is that you can take some simple steps to reduce the chance that you'll be affected by the most common threats.

Use virus protection software – No computer should be without antivirus software. Just having the software installed is not enough however. New viruses are released almost daily. You must ensure that you keep your virus definitions updated. If you don’t, it’s almost like having no protection at all.

Install a firewall – whether software, hardware, or a combination of the two, firewalls provide some degree of protection against possible attacks. However, no firewall can detect or stop all attacks, so it’s not sufficient to install a firewall and then ignore all other security measures.

Don’t open unknown email attachments - Before opening any email attachments, be sure you know the source of the attachment. It is not enough that the mail originated from an address you recognize. The Melissa virus spread precisely because it originated from a familiar address. Malicious code might be distributed in amusing or enticing programs. If you must open an attachment you’re unsure about, make sure your virus definitions are up-to-date.

Make regular backups of your critical data - Keep a copy of important files on removable media such as ZIP disks or recordable CD-ROM disks (CD-R or CD-RW disks). Use software backup tools if available, and store the backup disks somewhere away from the computer.

Additional Resources

The National Cyber Security Alliance (NCSA)
CERT® Coordination Center - Home Network Security
Federal Trade Commission
Department of Homeland Security- US Cert

Related Media Coverage

Online users not safe as they think - Oct. 25, 2004
Plague carriers: Most users unaware of PC infections - Oct. 25, 2004
AOL survey finds home user ignorant to online threats - Oct 26, 2004

ProTech Computer Solutions can help you too!

Of course, if you're still confused by all of this, or simply would like some assistance in safeguarding your PC or network, we can help. We'll use the latest software and tools to verify and protect the integrity of your computers as well as offer tips and suggestions to help keep your information and computers secure. Schedule an appointment today!