In
a world where huge amounts of information are held on computer systems, it is
vital to be able to keep information as secure as possible. This can often be
compromised when people find ways to hack into systems and steal confidential
information.
One
such way that this is often done is through the use of a keylogger, which is a
piece of software that captures every letter typed on a computer keyboard and
then sends it to a third-party, usually either by email or by storing the
information on the computer itself for the hacker to collect later.
To
stop this from happening to your system, the best way is to ensure that you
have up-to-date antivirus software installed and update it regularly. Also, it
is good idea to run a virus scan should you notice anything unusual with your
system, for example if it is suddenly running at a slower rate than normal.
As
most of us, being human, often forget to do this, it is a good idea to
configure your anti-virus program to update automatically, preferably at least
once a day, as this will provide the best protection from keyloggers and also
from other types of viruses.
However,
should the worst happen and your computer is compromised, this is what you
should do to prevent the situation from getting any worse:
*
Update your antivirus software
*
Temporarily disconnect your computer from the Internet (and also your home
network, i.e. your router)
*
Run a full system scan on your machine, ensuring that it completes
successfully.
*
Reboot your system
*
Check the processes list using Task Manager (press Control+Alt+Delete, open
Task Manager and then click on the Processes tab) for anything that looks
unusual.
*
Check your firewall settings to ensure that your machine is properly secured.
*
Change all passwords on your system
Once
you have completed the above steps, you can then reconnect your computer to the
Internet. You will then need to change passwords to any and all websites that
you normally use as they may have been compromised.
The
most important thing of all when changing passwords is to never use the same
password on more than one website, as this would mean that a hacker would only
have to get it once to have access to everything that you normally use online.
Finally,
a good way to set multiple passwords that are easy to remember is to have a
base password and then add some numbers or other characters which are unique to
each site.
Article
Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=John_A_Courtenay
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