It’s hard to imagine a world without Facebook, Twitter and Gmail, and it’s so great to live in this awesome technological age. But the downside of all of these online accounts is that most computer hackers can easily access all of your private information floating around online. One way they do this is by cracking your account password, which is why it’s so important to make sure you have a strong one! Since most of us aren’t computer geniuses, Intel has designed a password strength tester that lets you know how long it might take someone to crack it. And if you test out your password now, you can be eligible to win a new Ultrabook that Intel is giving away until May 27th! What could be better than a strong password and a new laptop?
Once you’ve taken care of perfecting your password, it’s important to learn about other ways that computer hackers and viruses can infiltrate your information. It’s pretty embarrassing when someone updates your Facebook status without you knowing, but it would be even worse if someone tampered with your computer without you knowing. There are tons of viruses lurking around on the Internet and some of them can cause you to lose tons of money and waste lots of your time.
There are many steps you can take to easily play defense against these destructive online tricks. Don’t click on questionable links in emails that you get from unknown people, or ads that claim you already have a virus (when you really don’t). Avoid downloading malicious software that asks you for payment and personal information, and never give out your password, pin numbers or account information online.
Scams and viruses can find your computer in a number of ways, and once your information is acquired then anything can happen. Don’t find yourself without a chunk of money or without a working computer, which is one of the most important tools in college. Intel can teach you tons of other tips and tricks to keep your computer and private information safe. Take some time to educate yourself and be cautious with your online activities so you can keep tweeting, emailing, or doing anything else without any unwanted interruptions.