Malware

Malware, or malicious software, is a term used to describe computer code designed to interfere with software and hardware functionality. Malware can be downloaded onto a device by exploiting vulnerabilities or by attacking the device directly. Mal malware may be used for heuristic analysis (behavioral tracking) which then allows for better targeting of advertising revenue markets.

In this new era of cyber-crime and state monitoring, it is increasingly important to have basic knowledge about cybersecurity and computer security in order not just to protect yourself but also your family and possessions.

The increasing use of social networking and the internet in general for different purposes (banking, shopping, etc.) is also an easy target for cyber-criminals. Learn how to protect yourself and your data by using a Virtual Private Network (VPN). VPNs are typically used to connect remote offices together or allow employees access to internal files and documents. However, many are unaware that increasingly people are using VPNs simply as a means of protecting personal data when surfing the internet. With increasingly sophisticated cyber-attacks taking place, such as phishing scams or malware attacks which enable hackers to access your personal information with just one click, forgetting about basic online protection can prove very costly indeed.

There are many sources of information about computer security and online protection. Here are the top 5 sites to visit:

Articles: 

This site contains a number of articles on cybersecurity which are to the point and fairly easy to understand with a clear focus on different aspects of this topic. The articles cover many different areas, from social networking and Facebook safety, to anti-virus software, protecting your emails from hackers, preventing spam emails and more. As well as general articles about online security and internet protection, there is also a section dedicated to cyber-crime. The topics here include hacking techniques (brute force attacks), email scams (phishing), credit card frauds/scams and much more.

CheatSheets: 

This is an excellent resource covering different areas of computer security and online protection. A 'cheat sheet' is a single page reference guide to a specific set of commands or procedures designed for quick reference. Here you will find excellent, up-to-date cheat sheets about anti-virus software and its use (MS Windows, Mac OSX), safe browsing (phishing scams), dealing with spam emails, Firefox browser add-ons (security and privacy settings) as well as sections dedicated to WiFi security issues and email encryption.

Guides: 

CNET has some good tutorials for beginners in the world of cyber-crime. On this site you will find excellent guides for dealing with phishing scams, mydoom, shutting down your computer (in case of a cyber-attack), data breaches and spam emails.

News: 

This is an interesting take on different aspects of internet security. News items include phishing scams, data breaches, DNS hacking and malware attacks. In addition to news items from the world of technology, there are also articles about cyber-crime related arrests in the United States.

Online Resources: 

An excellent 'one-stop shop' for information regarding online safety and internet security is www.bbc.co.uk/news/.

Conclusion: 

It is no longer enough to simply be computer literate, it is now equally important to have a basic understanding of internet security and why it is necessary. In this sense, these 5 sites provide a good starting point for those who wish to learn about this topic in more detail.

Articles:

This website contains articles covering popular internet security topics such as Facebook safety, phishing scams and protecting your emails from hackers. Although there are no detailed guides or tutorials for setting up firewalls, setting up an anti-virus system or keeping your data secure, the articles do contain useful information on these topics with clear instructions on how to improve your online protection.