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Introduction to Computer Security
There is one thing that every computer user should be aware of
and
that is computer security. This security is needed to protect
a computer user against such problems as hackers, viruses, and
indecencies. The
internet, while it is a huge network that provides us with a vast
amount of knowledge and resources, also has its downfalls. It is
a big source of viruses.
A virus can be very sneaky and very destructive. A virus is
simply a "self-replicating program that has destructive side effects"
(Levine 359). It is important to have an antivirus protection on your
computer because a virus can destroy or damage the content on your computer.
People can create and send viruses to you in many different ways. "The number
and types of individuals who pose a threat have increased and the skill
level required to attack systems have declined" (Erbschloe 1).
Spam and Spyware are also problems on a computer that require
security. Spam is "unwanted commercial e-mail that is typically sent in bulk
to thousands or even millions of recipients" (Gregory 5) and Spyware is
unwanted software. When a computer is infected with these two problems,
it can cause the computer to run slower, e-mail messages to be erased, and
unwanted porn to be sent to you (Gregory 12).
Hackers pose a threat to your computer as well. These unethical
people will break into your computer system and steal important
information with no regard to how it will affect you. Hackers have gone
as far as to steal a person's identity. They "are likely to attack
systems
that require the least amount of effort to break into" (Beaver 12). It is
crucial for you to have some
kind of protection against such people. A person's secret information
should stay a secret.
After a brief overview of the problems one can have with their
computer, you can see how computer security is so important. There have
been several laws and acts created in order to help prevent problems such as
these.