A safe computer is often a very subjective term depending on the person who is asked this question. As a cybersecurity professional, our definition of safe is often more complex and involved than the average user. A safe computer means that the system is not compromised by an adverse party, and it is operating as intended. However, it is important to note that no system is 100% secure. Even the best cyber security protocols and practices do not make the system impenetrable. The computer, or host needs to be free of malware and other malicious items. This is important because an infected host that connects to a network can spread more easily, and infect other nodes. Another often overlooked feature that many do not associate with security is updating. Updating is crucial in any computer device. This can mean the difference between safe and unsafe devices. For example, there have been many zero-day attacks on systems that cause damage until a patch is made. Microsoft has had many notable compromises in their systems over the years that affected users who were operating on the older versions of windows. What makes updating important is it is building a wall for hackers. An update means that the previous exploits no longer work, so to target up to date users, the hackers must regroup and figure it out. That is why hackers typically target users on older operating systems, or out of date versions. On older versions, the exploits are well known and posted, so it is easy work for the hackers to take advantage of this. Another part of computer security is networking. The best computer antivirus and malware protection are worthless if the incoming and outgoing packets are compromised. For example, using coffee shop wifi is very dangerous, as someone could be “sniffing” the packets. Adding a VPN to the mix can add to security. At the end of the day, it’s best to be proactive about security, but still understand no computer system is 100% secure.