Computer Know-how
Being familiar with computers is the most important security tool you can have. It has a very real effect on the other absolutely essential tools and you can nearly get away without using the other tools if you’re good enough with this one (don’t do it though, read on for more).
Impact On Everything
Your computer knowledge directly effects the level of security that your system will have. Here’s a list of just a few ways in which a low level of computer knowledge can impact your security.
- Firewalls: May not configure correctly to start with. May allow programs and services access when they shouldn’t have it
- Anti-Virus: May not schedule scans properly. May not update properly. May allow subscription to lapse
- Updates: May not update all software at all or frequently enough
- May visit websites that can cause harm using an insecure or improperly configured browser
- May download and run files that contain malware (from web/ftp or P2P)
- May run email attatchments from untrusted sources that contain malware
- May fail to properly configure Windows (or other OS) for security, allowing attackers an easy in
- May use poor passwords
Basic tutorials coming soon.