Page 101 - Cyber Safety C-7

Even when software upgrades repair your digital home’s windows and doors, certain virus might
still try to enter. Hence, you also need an antivirus program, constantly on duty to find and stop
these intruders. Think of a computer virus as a tiny germ that can make your computer sick. It
can slow it down, delete files or even steal your passwords. Antivirus software is like a doctor and
a bodyguard for your computer.

What does an antivirus do?

Antivirus software helps keep your computer or device safe by:

Scans files and programs Blocks dangerous websites Removes or quarantines
for known viruses and or emails (phishing (isolates) any harmful
malware attempts) software it finds

Therefore, it is important that your antivirus software is always running and updated. Just like
security updates for your operating system, antivirus programs need the latest information to
recognise new types of malwares.

“Keep antivirus updated. Do NOT turn it off to ‘speed up’ games or
downloads.”

quick

Tick ( ) if you know this:

1. Antivirus software works by scanning files for known threats and blocking suspicious activity.
2. Software updates fix bugs and close security holes.

3. Data protection is all about keeping personal and sensitive information safe from harm,
misuse or unauthorised access.

4. A backup is the process of making a copy of important files and storing it in a safe place.

FIREWALL – STAYING SAFE FROM DIGITAL ATTACKS

A firewall is a security system that monitors and controls network traffic to protect devices and
data. It is an essential tool for data protection. Think of your computer as a house and the Internet
as the street outside. A firewall works like a strict security guard standing at the main gate. It

checks all incoming and outgoing Internet traffic and blocks anything suspicious or unauthorised.
This helps stop hackers from secretly accessing your computer through the Internet.

Data Protection 99