The Internet is not as safe as you think!

By the time you read this you will know that a 19-year old was arrested in the United Kingdom for computer hacking into many government and corporation websites around the world.

This brings a great concern to mind as to how secure the Internet is. If a 19-year old hacker can break into websites owned by major corporations such as Sega and Sony; and government sites for the FBI and the CIA and others then our secure is your home computer
against attacks?

Many advances have been made in the personal computer operating systems Windows and Macintosh (sorry Mac users you are also vulnerable) over the past few years in developing more built-in security. The latest versions are more robust and less likely to get infected than their predecessors but they are still not as secure as they can be yet.

Weekly and monthly updates from Apple and Microsoft have made each operating system stronger against new attacks as they unfold. You must be very careful where you travel on the
Internet and be vigilant to keep your anti-virus software up to date weekly, daily, monthly and annually.

Version 2010 of your anti-virus will not have the same strength as version 2011 since advances in technology and scan methods have been included. Common sense also plays a key role in protecting yourself online just as it does when you used your phone or talk to someone
face-to-face.  Try to think of what you would do it you were talk directly to someone or making a purchase in the store; would you show anyone you contact information without being asked?

Sometimes we feel more secure on the computer because it feels like a one-to-one conversation but in reality it is more like being in a crowd with everyone watching you.  We have to teach and demonstrate responsibility to our children since they can only learn from
our experience. Although they have more time and are more in tune with the
latest tech trends we have to guide them nevertheless.

By using our experience and insight of the past we can help secure the future.  Our children are counting on us to teach they responsible computing and proper usage of the technology around us.

All too often lately break ins are occurring more frequently and no one seems to be able to foresee the next potential threat until it is too late. We need to help our community and government be prepared and try to prevent future breakdowns of security by figuring out ways to enhance the methods already in place.

Hacking and other break ins are going to occur if we just leave things  as they are and just follow. The time has to come when we become overly secure of our information and take action.