Hackers are getting more sophisticated in entering computers without permission, and once they are in, they have access to every bit of information on your computer, plus the ability to “hijack” it and control it.
Depending on what the hacker wants to do – he can pull out all your personal information, passwords, social security number, credit card numbers, and all the sensitive financial information you keep on the computer. If you are doing taxes on the computer – they can pull all your sensitive information from those. This can be used to steal your identity. You can find charges made against your credit cards, or even that your driver’s license has been reproduced and is being used by someone else. You house title may be transferred to someone else. It is a huge crime these days, and hurts people for many years.
Another reason a hacker might want to get into your computer is to take control of it. He might want to use it in a mass attack on a server, as has been done time after time – producing so much traffic on a server that it brings it down. Your computer is especially vulnerable to this if it is connected to DSL – constantly connected to the Internet.
One malicious type of hacker may just want to cause major havoc in your computer – deleting files and adding others, sometimes crippling your system, or sending a worm or virus into the computer to do as he wishes.
For all these reasons, you need a firewall – it’s like a front door lock into your computer. If it’s strong enough, it cannot be broken into. When someone tries to enter, you are alerted and can refuse or allow the entry – much like having a keyhole on your door to look through first. If you don’t know who is on the other side, you refuse the entry. A notice of entry pops up and you can see who is trying to get in. If you were not trying to download a file or trying to access a site, then chances are that you should not give permission to access. If you regularly connect to a site automatically, such as when downloading updates to a program you can set up to allow it constant access – essentially giving it key to your front door.
If you get a firewall, be sure to keep it updated, as well – because hackers are always trying to find ways to get around the firewalls (much like trying to figure our how to pick the lock on your door). The firewall programs need to adjust to be stronger and to outsmart the hackers.
To get a good firewall, check out the choices at http://doubleii.com/virusinfo.htm – and don’t keep open access to thieves.
P. Roe does website optimization work, and is working on her sites all the time – many are in number 1-10 ranking on Google and Yahoo! Subscribe to “Wise Little Tidbits” for more optimization tips. mailto:ezineshere@aol.com?WLT http://doubleii.com/webservices.htm
