 |  | | By Shannon Price | | |  | | If you kept your computer in a sealed room, never linked it to a network or the Internet, and never inserted a CD or floppy disk, then you wouldn’t need to worry about security issues. | | | But that’s a fairly unlikely scenario, given you’re reading this article on the Internet. And because you’re connected to the Internet, it’s reasonable to say that your computer could be the next target of a virus, worm, Trojan horse, spyware or some other nasty threat. |
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| | It’s not all doom and gloom though: There are actions you can take to help protect your computer against security threats. | | | What are the threats? | | | Before you take action, it’s a good idea to know what you’re dealing with. There are many different threats to your computer. You’ve probably heard of most of them before, but here are the definitions of the more common ones: |
| ● | Virus: Software (or code) written with the express intention of replicating itself. A virus attempts to spread from computer to computer by attaching itself to another file or program. | | ● | Worm: Software that replicates independently by sending itself to other systems through network connections. | | ● | Trojan horse: Software that appears to be useful or harmless but that contains hidden code designed to exploit or damage the system on which it is run. | | ● | Spyware: Software that can display advertisements (such as pop-up ads), collect information about you, or change settings on your computer, generally without appropriately obtaining your consent. You usually download spyware without knowing it by visiting untrustworthy Web sites. | | ● | Phishing: A way of extracting personal information from you such as bank or credit card details, normally done via e-mail. There are also some phishing schemes designed to put spyware on your computer. |
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| |  What you can do to help prevent an attack
Whether you’re dealing with a virus, worm, Trojan horse, or spyware, most malicious codes are trying to get onto your computer by hiding itself somewhere that looks innocent.
Fortunately, these days, a lot of software programs available to purchase have security measures to help you safeguard against attacks.
In particular, the 2007 Microsoft Office release has new security features to help you and your computer stay safe. In a nutshell, the 2007 Office system helps to protect your computer from anything malicious by
automatically disabling any potential security risks. For example, Microsoft Outlook 2007 has behind-the-scenes security measures in place to help deal with e-mail attachments; common file types that can be used to spread viruses are blocked so
you won't receive the attachment. But sometimes it’s not just attachments you have to worry about,
and Outlook 2007 also has a feature that warns about threatening content contained within an e-mail message.
See for yourself the benefits of the new 2007 Office release: Download a complimentary trial or view the demos today.
| | Other ways to help you stay safe | | | Although the 2007 Office release and other software programs have increased measures, there are additional ways to tighten up security even further. | | | The most basic security step is to make sure your computer software is up to date. Microsoft releases regular updates, which are also known as ‘patches’. The patches help combat new threats as they appear, and they are available for Microsoft Windows and Microsoft Office. | | | Also, adopt the following practices to further maximise your security: | | | ● | Be wary of information coming into your computer. If you suspect an e-mail attachment could be harmful, even from a trusted friend or colleague, don’t open it. | | ● | Never open or reply to a suspicious e-mail message from someone you don't know — you'll only confirm that your e-mail address is an active and valid one. | | ● | Be careful when visiting Web sites that request information from you, and ensure you are on a genuine site before entering any personal data. | | ● | Invest in anti-virus software – it’s worth it. Install it, use it and keep it up to date. | | ● | Always use strong passwords. While your birth date might be easy to remember, it’s also easy for others to find out. | | ● | Regularly make back-ups of your important documents. The stress of losing them won’t be so intense if you have copies. | | ● | Sign up for Microsoft Update. This is a quick and easy way to not only help protect you from the latest Internet threats, but also to ensure your PC is ready to automatically download the most recent updates. |
| | | For more information on how you can help protect your computer, or to download the latest security updates and patches, visit the Microsoft Security Centre today. It has loads of information on how to keep you, your family and your computer safe from security threats. | | | Plus, you can also see for yourself the improved security measures of the 2007 Office System by downloading a complimentary trial. Get the peace of mind you deserve – download the trial now. | | | Top of page | |
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