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Threats to Computer
Threats refers to the potential risk or dangers in which personal information can be leaked from a computer
without our knowledge.
Some of the common threats to the computer are:
(a) Theft: Theft means stealing of information or sensitive or confidential data stored on a computer. These maybe
of three types:
• Physical: Where a person may steal your desktop computer or laptop.
• Identity: Where a hacker steals your personal information and assumes your identity. Using this false
identity, the hacker can gain access to your account information or perform illegal activity.
• Software Piracy: This is stealing of software and includes using or distributing unlicensed and unauthorised
copies of a computer program or software.
(b) Virus: Computer virus is a malicious code that attaches itself to a file and enters your computer system and
makes copies of itself and carries out the harmful tasks in such a way that it damages the important files of
an operating system or application programs or important data files due to which the computer may stop
working.
Major types of viruses are Worms and Trojan Horse.
• Worms: Computer worms are a type of malicious software or malware that can replicate and spread on their
own mainly across computer networks.
• Trojan Horse: This malicious software disguises itself as a useful software but is designed to carry out
harmful activities on a computer. The name "Trojan Horse" comes from the ancient Greek story of the
wooden horse used to infiltrate the city of Troy.
(c) Online Predator: Online predators are individuals who use the internet to exploit, manipulate, or abuse
others, particularly targeting vulnerable populations like children and teenagers. They often build trust
with their victims through flattery, gifts, or attention. They may pose as peers or friends to create a sense
of familiarity and trust.
(d) Internet Scams: Internet scams often involve attractive offers that claim you have won a large sum of money
in a lottery or a prize and that you can claim the prize by depositing a certain amount of money. When you
deposit the money using credit card or online banking, you not only lose the deposit money but your card /
account information may be misused later.
Protecting Your Data
Data protection is safeguarding your data from data damage or data access by unauthorised people. It is always a
good practice to maintain and protect your computers data by following some precautions and managing a few
computer settings.
Some of the important points to protect your data are:
• Use Proper Passwords Combinations for Your Computer Login: At the time to allocate passwords take care
to use the combinations of small letters, upper case, numbers, and special characters like $, %, &, etc. These
combinations are difficult to hack and will be able to save your computer from unauthorised access.
• Install Anti-virus and Firewall: Anti-viruses and Firewall will not allow the unwanted data to enter your
computer. If by mistake you download any malicious code then antivirus or antimalware software will warn
you and then will remove it from your computer. This way you will be able to project your data from getting
damaged or stolen. Firewall can be a hardware— network security device or a software that acts as a barrier to
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