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A good number of people do not realise, that not having any computer security system at all is about the same as not having locked your house doors. Having one though, means that you have got a suite of defensive burglar alarms, automated door locks, state-of-the-art retina scanners, as well as personal security guards to prevent the unwanted intruder.

Sounds cool? Yes thank you - this is how my home computer is like. The basic high-technology deterrence system has the following components: firewall, anti-virus, anti-spyware.

The firewall is basically your automated door lock and retina scanner. It helps to picture your computer as just one giant house storing literally files and more files, in midst a huge neighbourhood called the Internet henceforth. Indeed, you need to lock your doors (even when you are at home) when you live in the world of the Internet. Computers actually have doors really, but they are known as ports. All Internet traffic goes through ports to get into your computer, just as everyone walks into your house through your door. Hence, the firewall is there to just stop the casual walk-in burglary.

The anti-virus and anti-spyware are nowadays usually packaged in the same program, but it may not always be the case. Imagine your evil-hearted neighbour who's jealous of your housekeeping skills mailing you a delivered package which looks inconspicuously-nice on the outside. Opening it up to your horror, you realise that it's filled full of cockroaches that start flying all about your house and a few small monkeys that go around messing up all the files you have laying around as your entire house is bugged (don't mid the pun) with near-invisible flies which buzz everything you say back to your neighbour. Ah - the horror. Yes, such cockroaches and monkeys do exist, as viruses, and flies as spyware in the world of the Internet. Having anti-malicious software products on your computer is akin to having a mail scanner to look for stuff like anthrax, and pest removal services at your doorstep.

Of course, you are the owner and you are king. Do not get silly enough to allow an intruder to get through all that high-tech firewalls! Ensure that you block them access each time they try, being mindful not to allow them entry when your firewall asks if you should. Also, practise caution with opening attachments from emails - your mail scanners don't know everything in the world for sure and may be hoodwinked by carefully-disguised poisons and the pest removal service may at times be too late - remember, constant vigilance!

Learn more about this author, Ajani Mgo.
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