Is Your Computer Systems
Security Vulnerable To Attack?

Most home computer systems security is in the "low security" category.

Military applications are built to maximal levels of "High Assurance" to allow restricted, authorized access only and protect classified information.

Governments and Commercial Institutions maintain "Medium Assurance" to protect their valuable information.

Home and small business computer systems, however, are much more "user friendly" but offer lower assurance and aren't protected by these maximal levels of security.

The home computer user has to rely on additional software security for protection, and should assume that sooner or later some kind of security breaches are almost inevitable.

Ways To Improve Your Computer Systems Security:

• Get advice from experienced computer personnel when setting up.
  
  
• Install system back ups... hard discs can "crash", be damaged, lost or stolen.
  
  
• Install power surge and power-interruption protection to avoid damage to electronic components.
  
  
• Allow for physical theft. Install adequate perimeter security and burglar alarm systems. Always store back-ups away from your computer in a safe location.
  
  
• Allow for natural disasters like flood, fire, tornado, earthquake, etc. ... perhaps store back-ups in an alternate location in a fire and water proof safe.
  
  
• Consider installing Encryption software for sensitive data.
  
  
• Decide who will be allowed access. Disgruntled employees or partners can wreak havoc on your data. Apply "Access Authorization Restrictions" that identify and authenticate users.
  
  
• Disconnect your computer from the Internet when not in use, especially "always on" connections like cable and DSL. The longer you're online the greater your exposure to possible attack.
  
  
• Erase Files Completely before discarding or selling your old computer. Files you think have been deleted may still be buried somewhere in your computer and be retrievable by hackers or unauthorized users. A "Secure Erase" program may overwrite all areas of a hard drive but safer still is to physically destroy old hard drives, CDs and DVDs.
  
  

Once you've thought about the physical side of your computer security you are ready to tackle the next aspect of computer safety... going online.

When you go online you join over one billion personal computers that are already out there (as of June 2008...ref:Wikipedia).

It is estimated that number will jump to two billion computers by 2014... and more than a few of these users are "the bad guys"... hackers, crackers, scammers and worse.

That's when you really become vulnerable to attack from hackers and cyber criminals.

And that's when you need to get serious about your computer internet security.