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Keeping your computer secure helps you avoid malware and direct hacking attempts designed to steal your personal information. Here are some ways you can help reduce your online risk when you use your computer at home.
Tips to protect your computer
Protect your personal information onlineYour privacy on the internet depends on your ability to control both the amount of personal information that you provide and who has access to that information. Find out how to protect your privacy on the internet. Protect yourself from scamsWhen you read email, use social media, or browse the web, you should be wary of scams that try to steal your personal information (also known as identity theft), your money, or both. Many of these scams are known as "phishing scams" because they "fish" for your information. Find out how to protect yourself from phishing scams and avoid tech support scams. Prevent and remove malwareOne important step toward greater workplace security is to protect your computer against malware. Windows SecurityWindows Security (or Windows Defender Security Center in Windows 8 or early versions of Windows 10) is built in to Windows and provides real-time malware detection, prevention, and removal with cloud-delivered protection. It is intended for home, small business, and enterprise customers. For more info, see Help protect my computer with Windows Security. Other ways to remove malwareTo assist all Windows customers, including those who are not running Windows Security, Microsoft provides Microsoft Defender Offline. Microsoft Defender OfflineMicrosoft Defender Offline runs outside of Windows to remove rootkits and other threats that hide from the Windows operating system. This tool uses a small, separate operating environment, where evasive threats are unable to hide from antimalware scanners. With Windows 10 and 11, Microsoft Defender Offline is built in to the operating system and can run from Windows Security. It is provided as a separate download for previous versions of Windows. Learn more about Microsoft Defender Offline Need more help?Internet Safety: How to Protect Yourself Against HackersRecent reports estimate that there will be between 20 and 30 billion Internet-connected devices by 2020. Many people are familiar with computers, tablets, smartphones, and wireless Internet. Now other “smart” devices, like televisions, home security cameras, and even refrigerators, connect to the Internet. More devices mean more avenues for attack by hackers. What is Hacking?Hackers illegally access devices or websites to steal peoples’ personal information, which they use to commit the crimes like theft. Many people shop, bank, and pay bills online. People also store financial information, like credit card or bank account numbers, on their devices. A hacker can do a lot of damage even if only one account or device is compromised. To make matters worse, hackers are difficult to stop because they are often located outside the United States and use cutting edge technology to evade law enforcement and acquire large amounts of information. There are two main ways hackers may try to get your personal information. One way is to try to obtain information directly from an Internet-connected device by installing spyware, which sends information from your device to others without your knowledge or consent. Hackers may install spyware by tricking you into opening spam email, or into “clicking” on attachments, images, and links in email messages, instant messages, and pop-up messages. Hackers use spyware to track keystrokes or acquire pictures of your device’s screen in the hope of snagging account numbers, passwords, and other sensitive information. Criminals can also hack individual websites—like email, social media, or financial institutions—and steal the information stored there. While trying to protect all your devices and accounts from these criminals may seem daunting, there are some easy, practical steps you can take to keep your information more secure. Protecting Computers and Laptops
Protecting Cell Phones
Protecting Other Internet-Connected DevicesAs mentioned above, Internet-connected televisions and appliances are now available in the marketplace. These devices, as well as the router that connects your home to the Internet, are also vulnerable to attack. It is important to protect these devices just like computers and smartphones.
Protecting Online Accounts
If Your Device or Online Accounts are Hacked
Reporting HackingHacking is a crime. You may file a report with the Federal Bureau of Investigation, which may be contacted as follows: Federal Bureau of Investigation You may also wish to file a report with the Federal Trade Commission as follows: Federal Trade Commission For more information on consumer issues, contact the Minnesota Attorney General’s Office as follows: Office of Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison Related Posts:Scams Targeting Computer Owners By some estimates, over 85 percent of Americans have a computer in their home. Many computer users do not have the technical know-how to fix their computers when they break or jam. Scammers—many from other countries—seek to exploit these facts. Computer Malware and Phishing Schemes Increasingly, "phishing" emails do more than just impersonate a bank in the effort to steal consumers' information. Thieves may send a spam e-mail message, instant message, or pop-up message that infects the consumer's PC with spyware and gives control of it to the thief. What You Can Do About Junk Email Spammers send up to 100 million junk emails a day. Spam emails are not only a nuisance but can damage your computer and allow an attacker access to your private and financial information. What can individuals do to protect their computers from hackers?How to secure your computer from hackers. Use a firewall. ... . Install antivirus software. ... . Install an anti-spyware package. ... . Use complex passwords. ... . Keep your OS, apps and browser up-to-date. ... . Ignore spam. ... . Back up your computer. ... . Shut it down.. What technology should be used to secure your data to mitigate the damage?Use data encryption on laptops and notebook computers
Using a whole-disk encryption program is the best safeguard against unauthorized access of data on your laptop or notebook computer. Such applications use strong encryption methods that protect your device's hard drive while allowing you easy access to your data.
Can you hack a device that is not connected to the internet?Technically — as of right now — the answer is no. If you never connect your computer, you are 100 percent safe from hackers on the internet. There is no way someone can hack and retrieve, alter or monitor information without physical access.
What is the name of software and hardware that prevent hackers?A firewall is a security device — computer hardware or software — that can help protect your network by filtering traffic and blocking outsiders from gaining unauthorized access to the private data on your computer.
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