How to Prevent Computer Security Threats?
Last Updated on 2 years by Touhid
Computer security threats can impact the smooth running of your computer and it has the serious harm to a computer system. In this article we will discuss on how to prevent computer security threats to safe running of a computer. Cyber attackers are looking to steal sensitive information such as business details, credit card information, personal details, or any other information which they can sell to others for business purposes.
How to Prevent Computer Security Threats
There are different types of computer security threats such as virus, adware, malware, rootkit, hackers and much more. We have mentioned best tips on how to prevent computer security threats, which are as follows:
- Create Strong password
- Use Unique Password
- Delete Suspicious Email
- Use Antivirus Software
- Ensure Up to date Anti-virus Software
- Never Deactivate your Antivirus Software
- Don’t Download Untrusted Email Attachments
- Never Download Software from Unreliable Sites
- Take Regular Data backup
- Monitor Security Audit logs and Systems
- Use Data Encryption
- Keep Software Updated
- Train your Employees
1. Create Strong password
How to prevent computer security threats? Create a strong password for your computer login and online accounts in order to prevent from security threats.
The weak password is very easy to remember in human mind and people are using very simple passwords such as date of birth, mobile no, employee id, student id 123456 and more. To prevent from computer security threats you have to create a strong and standard password to secure your computer and others account from hackers.
Tips
To creating a strong password you can combine letters, numbers, special characters (minimum 10 characters in total) and change them on a regular basis.
For example: $iu@T&7k%; is a strong and standard password.
2. Use Unique Password
IT security experts recommended that use strong and unique passwords for each account. If you use same password on different account and if a hacker gets access to your one account then hacker will also get access all other accounts.
Tips
So, if you want to prevent from cyber security threats and want to protect your sensitive information from attacker, then use strong and unique password for each account.
For example:
- Email account –> Use strong and unique password
- Face book account –> Use strong and unique password
3. Delete Suspicious Email
When you will receive an unwanted email from unknown source the email seems to be suspicious or phishing e-mail. The email may have attachment files and if you download the file then a malware can install on your computer to hack your information. A suspicious e-mail that may contains a virus or malware to redirect you to a vulnerable website to steal your information.
Tips
- If you want to avoid phishing email, just delete any email that raises confusion.
- If you think your incoming email is suspicious then you can direct phone call to sender to confirm as he sends the mail.
- In addition to simply deleting the email, you can also mark it as spam, or as suspicious and it is better do not click on that type of email.
Learn more How to delete Spam Email?
4. Use Antivirus Software
Antivirus software is a program that helps to you how to prevent computer security threats such as hackers, viruses, worms, Trojan horses, and malware threats. It scans every file which comes through the internet, USB devices or external hard disk to your computer and helps to protect your system.
You can install one of the following anti-virus on your computer to prevent from cyber security threats.
5. Ensure Up to date Anti-virus Software
Antivirus software helps to keep protected a computer from the latest cyber threats such as viruses, malware, and spyware. Everyday new versions of computer viruses are being released and it is essential that your computer is protected from these viruses by keeping the anti-virus software up to date.
Tips
The best way to keep antivirus software up to date is to buy a reputable antivirus which is subscription-based program.
6. Never Deactivate your Antivirus Software
When you are installing new software and ask for disabling your antivirus software that means the software is pirated or malicious software. This type of software may also contain viruses or trojans or ransomware and any other malware.
Tips
- Never disable or deactivate your anti-virus for installing new software.
- And legitimate software would never ask you to disable your anti-virus.
7. Don’t Download Untrusted Email Attachments
When you will receive an email from unknown source with attachment file then don’t download the file. The attachment file may have malware script, if you download and open the file then malware will execute and infect to your computer.
Tips
So, it is better never download the untrusted email attachments to prevent from cyber security threats.
8. Never Download Software from Unreliable Sites
Cyber security expert recommended that downloading the software and apps from trusted sources but our common habit is that, we are downloading free software from unknown unreliable sites.
Tips
So, don’t download software, apps and other content from insecure websites and without verifying their legitimacy because these sites may contain malware which will infect your computer system.
A website is secure by SSL (Secure Socket Layer) In URL, you can see that a website starts with https:// such as: https://cyberthreatportal.com/
9. Take Regular Data backup
A data backup is a process copying or archiving data files and folders for the purpose of being able to restore data in case of data loss event. It is secondary storage of data which is used for data protection.
Tips
You can take regular data back-up manually or automatically by archiving important documents to an external hard drive, or using Drop box or using Google drive or any others external devices etc.
10. Monitor Security Audit logs and Systems
Regular monitoring of network and system is a process that can assist in the early identification of a computer virus by examining security audit logs. It is important that audit logs are checked regularly to ensure that your network and system remains protected by monitoring suspicious traffic and events.
Tips
The Web Application Firewall has a comprehensive logging feature to record significant events. The following types of logs are available in the Web Application Firewall:
- Web Firewall Logs
- Access logs
- Audit logs
- System Logs
- Network Firewall Logs
Learn more about Web Application Firewall
11. Use Data Encryption
Encryption is the process of transforming of your sensitive data in such a way that only authorized users can access it and make it unreadable for unauthorized users. It is important because it allows you to securely protect your computer data such as credit card numbers, bank details and login credentials that you don’t want anyone else to have access to.
Learn more about Data encryption
12. Keep Software Updated
You have to ensure that your all used software is updated such as anti-virus software, computer operating systems and application software’s. The main reason for downloading and installing the latest version software is to stay protected from security threats.
Old version software may have some bug or vulnerabilities in code and when a new version of software is released, the version usually includes fixes for those types of security vulnerabilities.
Tips
Manual software updates is a time-consuming process, so it is better to use automatic software updates for as many software as possible.
13. Train your Employees
Every organization should have arranged an awareness workshop and training program on how to prevent computer security threats. It is the best way to improve employee’s technical skills. The workshop and training program may include the following topics:
- Cyber security And its importance
- Different types of computer security threats
- How to prevent from cyber security threats?
- How to create a strong password?
- How to update application software and OS?
- Different type’s cybercrime and cyber-attack etc.
- Usages of social media and software
Finally, it is very important to protect our computer system from cyber security threats. We have discussed solution for how to prevent computer security threats. Hope the article will be helpful for you!
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