One of our assignments in class was to select three videos on PC Maintenance and Security and share a little about what we learned. Here we go....
1. Understanding how malware spreads.
The entire video was one big lesson. You think of your security software as taking care of everything for you without having to think about it - that's why its there...right? But think about when you installed your security software. Now think about the last time you updated it. Were you like me? You just hit the ignore or not at this time button? You're too busy to take the time to allow something to download and install and then your computer has to restart?
Now take into consideration that viruses can be attached to free software you download, e-mails you receive, files you share, or even through instant messages you receive. Maybe that security update wouldn't be a bad thing....
2. Explaining what firewalls do and don't do.
Every time I read the word firewall I think of a brick wall literally being on fire. Well, thats not quite what a firewall is. There are two types of firewalls, your hardware firewall and your software firewall. Hardware firewalls do not stop things from entering your computer but can block your computer from being visible on the internet (thanks to my hubby for explaining that one in more detail). Software firewalls are your 2nd line of defense and those constant little warnings that pop up are evidence of it working!
3. Demonstrating Spybot's Tea Timer (I totally picked this one because title sounded a little off)
Spybot Search and Destroy sounds kind of neat (not sure if it is Mac compatible - have to do a little more digging). Spybot is an IDS - intrusion detection software. I like that it allows you to block certain "bad pages" as they call them in Internet Explorer. Again, being a Mac person, not sure how useful this is to me, but worth seeing what comparable programs are out there. I'm sure the old adage of "I'm safer because I use a Mac" is quickly going out of date if it isn't already!
Updating programs always seems to come at the wrong time, when you are shutting down and need to be somewhere else. Wouldn’t it be nice if the updates occurred as you logged onto your computer? It would also be helpful if the computer terms used to explain directions were in plain English instead of computer-eze. (thanks go out to your husband)
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