Computer System Security Threats:How to deal with.

Here in this article, I am going to share few basic but vital tips on how to deal with computer system security threats that pose great dangers of virtual disaster to your system from rapidly growing malicious programs on the internet every day and increased activities of the cyber criminals. The major technical areas of security threats for your computer system are typically represented by confidentiality(privacy), availability(resources accessible by authorized persons) and integrity of data(protected against unauthorized changes). In the context of the above mentioned security threats no application alone can ever provide perfect security solution to your computer system in the aforesaid areas. If you, therefore, want real computer system security, you need to apply safe computing practices rather than depending totally on security programs to protect your system. Here are few simple but valuable tips on how to deal with computer system security threats for your trouble free computing and a safe digital life.

1. Regular back up your important files and data which is indispensable for data security. Disk crash, virus attack or forgetfully hitting the delete button can cause disaster to your precious files and data system. While DVDs or external hard disks are wonderful and fairly dependable devices for backing up your data, however negligible the chances, you can not rule out mechanical failures or accidental harm of these devices. Off-site data backups are, therefore, the best protection against almost any such eventualities. Today the most suitable and safest off-site location for data back-ups is the Internet through Cloud based service, which is the latest concept in data protection. There are several such automated and dependable cloud-based services like, Windows Live SkyDrive, Dropbox, ozyHome, and Syncplicity.
2. Moving around in the office or house with your laptop in ‘switched on’ condition can be disastrous. This is because when your laptop’s power is on, the hard disk inside it spins at an extremely high speed when a nominal jerk can cause severe damage to its head. It is, therefore, advisable to switch off your machine or put it in ‘stand-by’ or ‘hibernate’ mode whenever it is under movement. This precaution, however is not needed if you have a solid state drive (SSD) ;
3. Do not download and install any program that comes your way just because you’re getting it free. Whether it is applications, games, music, videos or whatever, they are villainous for incorporating malware in downloads. Moreover, even if the software is an approved one successive installation of such programs in your computer usually adds up scraps to the computer Registry causing slow down of your system. The cleaner the system more efficiently the computer will operate;
4. Don’t download anything in response to an advice from a program you didn't install or don't attach importance to claims that offers to protect your PC or to remove viruses. It is very much likely to do the opposite;
5. Update all your programs like antivirus and anti-spyware, browsers, operating systems, word processing etc.on a regular basis. Undertake automatic software updates whenever they are offered. Uninstall software that you don't use. In Windows, you can remove it using Windows Control Panel;
6. Make sure to install security software from a reliable source and keep it updated regularly. ‘Microsoft Security Essentials’ offers free real-time protection against malicious software for your PC. While updating of security software is vital for all internet users it is particularly important for those who spend a great deal of time on the internet. This would prevent malwares to take residence on your computer and intercept your log-in information for the services you frequently use including social networks;
7. Avoid using same password for all the web sites or services you use and make sure that the passwords are strong and consist of more than 5/6 characters and contain mix of upper and lower case letters and numerals. Don't share passwords with anyone. Create separate strong passwords for the router and the wireless key of your wireless connection at home;
8. Never turn off your firewall. A firewall puts a protective wall between your computer and the Internet. Turning it off for even a short period adds to the risk of your PC of being infected with malwares;
9. Do not reply to any messages, be it email or social media messages, unless you know the sender;
10. Do not open any email attachments sent via social networks unless you know the identity of the sender;
11. Avoid clicking links in e-mail or Instant Messages (IM). Instead, type the addresses directly into your web-browser;
12. Stay away from clicking ‘agree’, ‘ok’, or ‘I accept’ in banner ads, in sudden pop-up windows or warnings, on websites that may not seem genuine, or that offers to eliminate spyware or viruses.
13. Do not disclose any personal information in reply to any email, even if the e-mail is from a known source;
14. Do not shop or bank on any unsecured web sites. The URLs of the secured sites start with ‘https://’ and there will be a gold padlock in the lower right-hand corner of your browser;

If you are to have a safe digital life, you need to take proper safeguard against your computer system security threats, both for software and hardware, and not to neglect the fact that you are the one answerable for anything that happens to your computer system. Therefore, by following the above simple tips on how to deal with computer system security threats, you can easily tackle the major security issues of your computer system and reduce the chances of your PC becoming vulnerable to dangerous threats significantly. This will assure a secure and infection-free computing by you at all time and ensure a safe digital life for you.