1. The Simple Side of Computer Security for The Brownies That Like To Read!!

2. VIRUSES

3. What is a virus? A computer virus is a computer program that can copy itself and infect a computer. The term "virus" is also used to refer to other types of malware (things designed to harm or secretly access a computer) A true virus can spread from one computer to another (in some form of code) when the person that creates the virus sends it as an email or posts it on the internet.

4. What damage can a virus do? And what different types of viruses are there? Some viruses can prevent you from being able to use your computer at all. The CIH virus of 1999, named after its Taiwanese creator, Chen Ing Hau,which was created on his birthday made computers almost completely useless by deleted an important part of the computer's memory called the basic input output system (BIOS), which controls even the most basic tasks, such as starting the computer. Users had to have a chip in their computer replaced before the computer would work again. Other viruses damage specific parts of your computer. One virus, a Trojan virus called WinFixer, forced users into installing it by telling them there was something wrong with their computers. It was capable of physically damaging the mechanism used to open and close the CD drive, stopping users from putting in or taking out discs. Some viruses delete your files to make your life a nightmare. One of the viruses (the Mydoom worm) for a short amount of time searches the memory of computers for files with extensions like Microsoft Word documents, Microsoft Excel spreadsheets and JPG images. Then, it randomly deleted the files it found.For instance, there was a 60 % chance that Excel spreadsheets would be deleted, and a 40% chance that Word documents would be deleted. That could be a lot of people’s homework!!!

5. How can you stop your computer from getting a virus? There are lots different of types of anti-virus software that can be installed into computers. It stops viruses getting into computers. Some examples are: H+BEDV AVAST! GRISOFT INC BITDEFENDER.COM CLAMWIN KASPERSKY MCAFEE ESET SYMANTEC NORTON 360

6. Are there any drawbacks to using anti-virus software? There can be some drawbacks to using anti-virus software such as: It can be very expensive You have to do regular check ups that can take up to 5 hours every day!! You need to update them regularly.

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8. HACKING

9. WHAT IS HACKING? Normally, a hacker is a person who breaks into computers, usually by gaining access to the users controls. In computing, a hacker is a person in some distinct communities. A community of eager computer programmers and systems designers, who originated in the 1960s around the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Hacking is an unauthorised use of computer and network resources. The term "hacker" originally meant a very gifted programmer.

10. What damage can hackers do? Vandalism—Destruction of a computer or its data. Sometimes they break in and leave their mark to show they’ve been there. Hacktivism—A form of vandalism or electronic disobedience that is to do with polotics. Usually hacktivists have selfish motives. Theft—Gaining access to technological information, sometimes for resale. Hijacking—Many of the hackers who are desperate for money are interested in using viruses and Trojan horses to hijack your computer so they can remotely control it for their own purposes. Identity theft—Electronic theft of personal information that can be used to steal important documents from a specific person or company. Terrorism—Some experts believe that terrorists will eventually launch an attack using hacking techniques.

11. How can you stop hackers from being able to get into your computer? Install and use a firewall - a firewall is a piece of internet security software that blocks incoming attacks on your computer and internet connection from mean hackers Install and use good Virus Protection Software - it is a basic computer need, and will help protect your accounts from hacks. Many hackers use computer viruses to force access to a computer's information. Install and use good Malware and Spyware Protection Software - again, many hackers gain access to your accounts by installing mean software like keyloggers onto your computer. Installing good malware protection will stop these attacks.

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13. BACKUPS

14. Why is it important to back up your work/information? To back-up is to make spare copies of files and store them separately to the originals. Computers are known to go wrong from time to time, these days it is rare for the whole computer to break, but it does happen sometimes. One of the more common problems nowadays is when a virus infects the computer, all information is lost. This can be stopped by saving it somewhere else and re installing it into the computer when it is fixed. The average home user will probably just have to back up any important files as and when they are changed, and do a full back-up once a week/month. When PCs are used in a home office scenario then backing up should be done more frequently.

15. What should you back up your work or information to? You should back up your important information to a disk, USB key or anything else that you can insert into a computer, save work and edit it on. You can also upload it to the internet. Although, make sure that you copy your backups with a setting that allows you edit it, otherwise when you re-insert it into your computer, nothing will be able to change.

16. Where should you keep your backed up information and work? Away from other children Away from pets/animals Away from water Away from fire hazard areas Away from sharp objects Separate from computer

17. How can you keep your backups secure? The secure ways to keep your backups are: saving work onto it regularly keeping it in a safe place (not leaving it around) not losing it!!!

18. REMEMBER, ITS BETTER SAFE THAN SORRY!!! KEEP YOUR COMPUTER SAFE