Do you care if you get Hacked?

Do you care if you get hacked?

You should!

Just think about all the things you do with your computer. At the very least, I would bet you use it to send e-mail, and surf the web on a regular basis. In fact, if you're anything like the average computer user, you probably use the Internet to buy gifts, manage your stock portfolio, and even pay your bills online.

So what if your computer became compomised by a hacker?

In that case, it's safe to assume that everything you do with your computer is no longer private. Not only that, but depending upon the sophistication of an attack, a hacked computer may be reprogrammed to send out spam or participate in a Denial Of Service (DOS) attack. And of course, this is liability that no one would want!

So, how do you protect your PC from becoming compromised?

There are a number of good security practices you can follow, including running an antivirus program and a firewall at all times. However, the single most important thing you can do to protect your computer from compromise is to stay current with security patches. Every day new software vulnerabilities are discovered, many of which leave an open door whereby your computer can become compromised.

In response to these vulnerabilities, vendors will release security patches. Staying up to date on these patches helps ensure your computer is protect from the latest threats.

If you have Windows XP or Windows 2000 Service Pack 3 or above, you can take advantage of Microsoft's free security patch service called Microsoft Windows Update.

Windows Update automates the installation of these critical security patches, so you don't have to worry about manually downloading them yourself. Obviously this service will only distribute and install Microsoft security patches, but by keeping current with Microsoft security patches you will be well on your way to ensuring your computer and data remains safe.

Till the next time!

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