Really, it isn t that easy, but computers are very complex tools. And complexity and security often run counter to each other. People want their computers and networks to be safe, powerful, and easy to use. Computer and network security is a multidimensional problem, requiring solutions that are multidimensional. This will be a short tour of the network and computer security space, briefly describing the threats as well as the countermeasures.
Computer viruses are the most common and well-known attack against computers.
Computer viruses are programs that imbed themselves in other programs and perform malicious actions against the computer, usually the destruction of data files. Notebook computers are especially susceptible to the theft of files in data, simply because they themselves are easily stolen. To protect sensitive files, programs that encrypt important files are an especially good defensive measure. Encryption programs scramble data in a file in such a way that only the owner of the file, or someone to whom he has given permission, can access the information to read it or change it. Encryption software to lock files and folders against snoopers cannot keep someone from stealing a notebook PC, but any private data on the computer is safe if it is so locked.