Security Online

What Are The Risks?

There are really several different types of potential problems that can occur when a computer is not secure, or when you do not protect your identity online. Some put your system at risk, other’s put your identity at risk, and yet others can literally put your life at risk.

The worst thing that can happen is that someone could break into your computer, or gather information about you online, and use that information to stalk you. This is different than identity theft. This person does not wish to steal your identity. Instead, they most likely have psychological problems, and they mean you bodily harm.

While stalking of this nature isn’t common, it does happen. Furthermore, the instances of online and offline stalking are increasing – because the Internet makes it so easy to target victims, and too many people don’t understand enough about these crimes to protect themselves.

The next worst thing that can happen if your system is not secure, and you fail to properly protect your identity online, is that someone can steal your identity, and their use of your identity will most likely cost you quite a bit of money, and cause you headaches that you cannot even begin to imagine.

You probably think that a person would have to prove who they are, in order to use your credit card information, or even to obtain credit cards in your name. But this isn’t so. The use of the Internet allows anyone who has the right information to purchase just about anything you can imagine. Think about how easy it is for you to apply for credit cards – it’s the simple act of filling out a form – but instead of using your address, the thief will use an address where they can obtain the credit card when it is mailed. However, the address they use will not be traceable to them in most cases. But when you fill out an application for a credit card, the next time you hear from the credit card company, it will either be a letter of acceptance – with your new card, or a letter of denial. You will seldom have any contact with the company between those two things. This means that the card companies do not take the time to verify that you are really who you say you are. Criminals like this. They don’t have to prove anything – they just need to have the right information.

Identity theft isn’t just limited to purchases either. Your information can be used to obtain documentation for illegal aliens, or for those who wish to change their identity for some reason. Your identity could be used to get jobs, rent or buy homes or other property, obtain utility services, and to do just about anything else that you commonly do in your own life. That person simply becomes you on paper – but they live in a different town, different state, or even a different country.

The third category of potential problems that lack of computer security can cause is damage to your computer system. Malicious viruses are meant to damage your system, erase your hard drive, or simply interfere with the operation of your system. Some viruses are designed to automatically download and run other viruses – without you being aware of it. A virus will not physically destroy your system; however a virus can manipulate the operating system to such an extent that you must reformat your hard drive, without the possibility of saving your data before doing so.

The final category of potential problems that could occur due to lack of computer security is that a hacker or spammer could use your resources to either send spam, or to do damage to someone else’s computer. Many viruses arrive through email, and they operate through email as well. The virus can literally crawl through your address book in your email client, and start sending itself to every contact you have, along with other nasty viruses. The virus could just sit quietly on your system, and attach itself to every email that you send out. It could also allow someone to use your hard drive, your email client, and your Internet connection to send out spam or viruses.

Other than sending spam and viruses, your system resources can also be used as part of a network to launch a DOS attack. DOS stands for ‘denial of service,’ and a DOS attack means that a network of computers – possibly including yours – will be used remotely to flood the bandwidth and resources of a particular website, or a group of websites or networks, making the website or network inaccessible to legitimate users. These DOS attack hackers control computers by installing a small program on them that will allow them to access the computer, and use its resources, when they are ready to launch the attack.

While the computers that would be used in DOS attacks used to be hand picked, and manually hacked, hackers have now automated this process, and computers that have little or no security measures are targeted for use in the attacks – because the systems are easily hacked and taken control of. If your computer is running slower than usual, if your Internet connection is slower than usual, and if the activity lights on your cable or DSL modem are constantly lit up, there is a good chance your system is being used in a DOS attack – even though your system isn’t the one actually being attacked.