Your computer is similar to your car in terms of the need for safety. It
comes with an operating system (such as Microsoft Windows) built in,
and that operating system has security features. Sometimes that operat-
ing system has flaws, and you need to get an update to keep it secure.
And as you use your computer, you’re exposing it to dangerous condi-
tions and situations that you have to guard against.
Threats to your computer security can come from a file you copy from a
disc you insert into your computer, but most of the time, the danger is
from a program that you download from the Internet. These downloads
can happen when you click a link, open an attachment in an e-mail, or
download one piece of software without realizing that malware(mali-
cious software) is attached to it.
You need to be aware of these three main types of dangerous programs:
➟ A virusis a little program that some nasty person
thought up to spread around the Internet and infect
computers. A virus can do a variety of things, but typi-
cally, it attacks your data, deleting files, scrambling
data, or making changes to your system settings that
cause your computer to grind to a halt.
➟ Spywareconsists of programs responsible for tracking
what you do with your computer. Some spyware sim-
ply helps companies you do business with track your
activities so that they can figure out how to sell you
things; other spyware is used for more insidious pur-
poses, such as stealing your passwords.
➟ Adwareis the computer equivalent of telemarketing
phone calls at dinner time. After adware is down-
loaded onto your computer, you’ll get annoying pop-
up windows trying to sell you things all day long.
Beyond the annoyance, adware can quickly clog up
your computer. Its performance slows down, and it’s
hard to get anything done at all.
303Chapter 15: Using Technology to Keep You Safer