Malware That Linux Security Software Protect You From

By Sharlene Fleming

Most any operating system will benefit from having security features. With the increased need to stay connected, there is also increased risk to being exposed to malicious software. Different operating systems require different types of safety features. Here is an overview of what a Linux security software can do.

There are several ways by which a Linux system is rendered safe. It has inherent features to ensure its safety as well as features that can be added on to it. To know which features you should get and which to forgo you should determine your needs first.

Basically, regardless of the files that you have, you will be needing a firewall. It acts as a barrier between your computer and possible malicious data that comes from the world wide web. No unauthorized access from a private network will get through the firewall.

If you have a private network, you will know the importance of this feature. Hackers will find it difficult to gain access to your network and thus, your data is kept away front their prying hands. Banks are just one example of a network that hackers would want to access. Firewalls evaluate information before it can pass through it. Information which has not passed the criteria will not be allowed to enter or leave the network that it protects.

Safety tools have multiple functions. What you require is largely dependent on the type of files you have. But basically a few functions are needed by all users. These function include system analysis, auditing, data recovery, and network monitoring. These software need to be updated frequently for new malware are always emerging. Among the things that your computer is vulnerable to are discussed below.

Computer virus is so named because it acts very much like a real virus. It finds a host and attaches itself to the host. It makes use of the host's resources so that it will be able to replicate. After replication, it will go on to infect others. Not all viruses are harmful but they make changes in the system and these changes are always undesirable.

Worms unlike virus do not need a host to replicate. Instead, they take advantage of the vulnerability of the security so that it can spread itself to other computers. Trojan horse is so named because like the Trojan horse in Greek mythology, it disguises itself as harmless only to corrupt your files or system. This malware is used by hackers so they could steal information from the network that they have attached themselves to.

Spy ware, like spies gather information. Information like passwords, personal identification numbers, and internet using habits can be gathered by spyware. Adware are basically benign unless it carries with it a spy ware. Ad wares are more of an annoyance rather than a threat. They just pop up on your screen disrupting what you are doing.

The protection that you need from these malicious data needs to be real time for most infiltrations happen while you are online. Exchanges in information over the internet have made it easier for hackers to access you. For this reason you need to anti spam filter, to give hackers a hard time gaining access.

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Benefits of Internet Security Software

By Anna Grange

Internet security is a complex subject, too complex for a brief article like this. So here I'm sticking to a few of the most important basics. If like so many Internet users, you are clueless about what the best Internet security is and how to get it, hopefully this article will help.

First on your list of defenses should be a good firewall. Your firewall will prevent unauthorized access to your computer from any external source, and the settings can be varied from low security to high. Another thing the firewall does is to generate a log file capturing connection details, such as those of the systems which are trying to gain access to your computer, as well as record the data that is being sent out by you. Windows XP/Visa provides a firewall by default.

Often the information you use on the internet is extremely sensitive and personal. You make purchases using financial information such as credit card numbers and authorization codes, sign up for deposits using bank account numbers and routing numbers, fill out demographic forms with your social security information, or post details of purchases and plans in public forums. Even though you may feel that these items are safe because they are being done virtually, they can actually be less safe than face-to-face interactions. This is because internet predators can use spyware programs that will secretly infiltrate your system and steal this exceptionally classified information. It can then be used to steal your identity, create new credit accounts in your name, empty your bank accounts, or otherwise harm you personally. Internet security software prevents this from happening by identifying spyware and destroying it.

Adware is software that causes those annoying and distracting pop-ups. Spyware is a little different. It grabs info off your computer and passes it onto its remote master. Both adware and spyware can ride piggyback on the free software you download, then latch onto your system files and corrupt them. These types of "malware" are nearly as bothersome as a virus, though they seldom do direct harm to your system. Your best defense against adware is anti-adware, such as AdAware. But more importantly is protecting your system against spyware, and to accomplish this, try ZoneAlarm Spyware. Needless to say, Norton and McCafee also supply anti-spyware. Secure Web Browsing. For a more secure web browsing experience, it's a good idea to disable third party cookies that let the advertisers keep track of your system (in IE, click on Tools, then Internet Options, then Privacy).

Another simple yet effective methodology is to enable "warning text boxes" that will alert you if you are entering an unsecured connection (in IE, click on Tools, then Internet Options, then Security, then Custom Level). A couple useful add-ons to keep in mind are Ad- block, which prevents pop-ups, and No-script, which protects you from XSS attacks by allowing scripts to run only from the sites that are trusted by you.

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