Journal #8

To tell if your computer is secure, there are a series of safety measures to check in order ensure it is safe. The first thing is to install a firewall. According to Cisco, “a firewall is a network security device that monitors incoming and outgoing network traffic and decides whether to allow or block specific traffic based on a defined set of security rules”. Simply put, a firewall is designed to restrict hackers and threats from entering and using your computer. When this is installed, make sure it is always on and more maximum effectiveness keep it updated on a regular basis. Other than hackers that can affect your computer system, another thing you should look out for are viruses. These are a type of harmful software, or malware, which spreads within programs and systems and it can lead to data loss and leakage. Common signs which show that you have a computer virus is if your system is running slower than usual, the appearance of pop-up windows, constant system crashes, etc. Anything that your computer would not normally be doing would indicate that you should perform a virus scan and remove any unwanted files. To protect your computer from future virus related threats, an anti-virus software would be your best bet. Antivirus softwares, such as McAfee, scans your computer for viruses automatically and deletes them. Similar to firewalls, this should be regularly updated as well. One of the most important things a person can do to maintain their computer’s safety is creating and keeping a strong password. The more difficult it is to guess a password, the harder it is to forcefully access your account. Lastly, when connecting to the wifi, be especially careful when doing so in public. Public wifi can be bad because it is not secure and your data is not encrypted, making it easy for hackers to access your device while on the network. It is recommended that public wifi is avoided.

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