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Nowadays, you really can’t experience the Internet
to the full without having a solid antivirus and anti-hacking program to back
your sessions.
Recently, I bought a new Windows PC for my 18 year
old daughter. And it wasn’t long before she complained of a bluescreen
outbreak. As a data scientist over 10 years of on-field experience, my heart
sunk upon hearing this. Because I knew that we had a virus lurking around our
business. And this had happened despite the antivirus shields built into our
home’s Optimum
packages. Without wasting a breath, I immediately
went about updating her system’s software defenses. But it was only then that I
came to understand the full extent of the problem.
How Personal
Experience Led to Penning a Virus Protection Blog
My daughter’s new computer, it turned out, was
infected with a particularly troublesome form of ransomware. This is a type of
virus that blocks the victim’s computer screen behind an encrypted screen. And
the password is only transmitted when a ransom amount (demanded by the hacker)
is transferred.
Only I didn’t let things get this far. And with on
a few strokes of the keyboard, I managed to rescue the system from the
attacker’s clutches.
But this experience did serve to provide a valuable
lesson. Regarding the importance of always keeping a powerful antivirus
application running in the background. So that any emerging threats may be
instantly recognized and dealt with.
Lessons from the Workplace
In my workplaces, I regularly have to keep all my
confidential data safe from prying eyes. Of both colleagues and expert hackers
from the outside (who may want to do me, or my company, harm). Some of the
methods that I use to achieve this are well-known. But with others, I tend to
be a bit creative. These techniques are my ‘secrets’ if you will.
And they provide me with a lot of space to experiment with and
see which method fares out the best against which type of attack.
In the interests of spreading some public awareness
regarding this issue, I’ve decided to list them here. These are (in no
particular order of preference) as follows:
Using Multi-Character Password
Encryptions
2. Restricting Usage of Portable
Storage Devices
3. Keeping Default System Antivirus
Programs Updated
4. Always Sending Confidential Data
over Protected Networks
5. Wiping Account Credentials from
Public Systems
6. Using Encryption Software to
Scramble Email Content
7. Engaging in Personal Firewall
Attacks (to test shields strength)
I’ve elaborated on a few of the important ones
below.
Multi-Character Password Encryptions
Making passwords with a lot of different character
strings is sure to protect your data from hackers and unauthorized access. The
only flipside with this method is that many people tend to have a hard time
remembering such complex passcodes. Fortunately, the internet today comes with
many free applications that specialize in password protection and retention.
And a word of advice: never base your passwords
around your date of births, home phone numbers, and addresses.
These tend to be some of the easiest kinds of codes
to crack!
Restrict Portable
Device Usage
Portable flash and USB drives are some of the most
effective routes for virus delivery. And they are used for this very purpose by
clever hackers and Trojan developers. So it is always best to never use someone
else’s portable devices.
Keep System
Antivirus Programs Updated
This is probably the best advice that any systems
analyst can give. Because keeping your antivirus programs updated keeps you
from the latest threats to emerge on the internet. Which, if you didn’t already
know this, come by as a second-by-second occurrence.
Many Windows PCs come preinstalled with the
Microsoft Security Essentials software suite. This is great for safeguarding
your system against common and the simpler virus threats. But for the more
aggressive kinds of malicious codes, you should really invest in a holistic
security solution like Norton Antivirus or McAfee.
Engaging in Personal
Firewall Attacks
This tip is more suited to the specialist I.T
professionals out there. Because it requires them to bombard their developed
security software with all manner of self-created threats. If you’re interested
in learning more about this form of self-protection, consider downloading one
of the helpful guides contained on the internet for the purpose. Personally,
I’ve stored many of these resources through my Xfinity
internet plans. And the wealth of security knowledge that I’ve gained from
familiarizing myself with them has paid off in gold.
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