Data and Internet security has again become a hot topic in the media the most recent events of credit card theft that had left such
big brand companies such as Target, Walmarts, and Bank of America at the mercy of these thieves. These events led to great public
angst and outcry. Apparently some hackers managed to crack into their systems and retrieve millions of credit card numbers and accounts of customers. Questions concerning security reached the media and many consumers were fearful their accounts had been compromised. Buying a simple rug could cost you your credit score, was the thought many customers were voicing.

Internet security is an ongoing topic; new viruses and other spy ware are finding their way to pcs. hackers are getting better at disguising their works and many have breached even the hardest of computer security, those pcs found in government organizations. Furthermore, the profile of computer hackers is no longer the lonely and isolated computer nerd who seeks attention rather, governments and big organizations are behind these criminal acts in the hopes to acquire information about specific individuals, groups, and businesses.

To protect ones data and computer, an individual can follow some simple steps. Fist a good antivirus program should be installed and updated on a regular basis. Always keep the antivirus running as it will detect, block, and delete, infected and suspicious files. Another good habit would be to work with one computer for all the online transactions and use another for offline tasks. This would help isolate sensitive data such as bank records, credit card information, passwords, and work related data from the Internet.
Another step, is to back up important files. This will require a good backup software program and external hard drives. Making copies of files onto an external hard drive will protect the individual should a virus attack the system as the records and data can be stored in a safe location, and if the pc becomes infected the individual can simple recall, retrieve, and restore the copied data onto another pc.
If one must send files on the Internet then encryption should be used. Encryption is a technique used to code specific messages in such a way so that only the authorized person can access the information. Usually a password is needed to open specific files that are transmitted over the Internet. Such techniques further protect data from unauthorized individuals as encrypted files are hard to crack. These presented suggestions can help protect your data and ensure it does not fall into the wrong hands.