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Whether it's to check social media, respond to emails, or simply to watch cat videos on YouTube, we use the Internet every day, often on multiple devices. We rely on the web to keep us connected to friends and family, as well as a critical tool for business. Just as much of our lives have moved onto the information superhighway, so too has a new breed of risk. While most people are aware of the nebulous threat of identity theft, there is so much more about which to be concerned. These days it is absolutely critical to have a secure Internet connection not just to keep your credit cards safe, but also to keep your business moving and your privacy protected.
Webcam Reversal
Every new laptop comes outfitted with a webcam. This is great for video conferencing, interviews, chatting, and doing simple video blogs. However, intrepid hackers have recently learned how to make your webcam a two way street. They can actually gain access to your laptop over the Internet, and look into your bedroom or office through your webcam. While blocking the webcam can easily thwart this spying, it is highly impractical. Laptops are meant to be mobile, to be regularly opened and closed. When your laptop is constantly moving around, it is unlikely that you will always have something nearby to block the camera. Furthermore, many laptop owners are teenagers and college students. Kids simply do not understand the dangers of the Internet, and will seldom make blocking their laptop's camera a priority. You should assume that when your child's laptop is open, the camera is open to attack.
Network Stability
With the advent of cloud computing, having a secure Internet important has never been more critical. A secure connection does just mean that your network is safe from hackers. It also means that your connection to the web is less likely to suddenly become unavailable. Most information is now stored in the cloud, whether it's a business proposal or a grocery list. An unstable connection will make the cloud inaccessible to you, meaning whatever work you were doing is stalled until you can reconnect. If you work from home, you cannot afford to have your workday regularly interrupted. You need to be able to store your work, quickly download new assignments, and have the stability to accomplish your tasks in a timely fashion.
The standard Internet cautions should not be ignored either. Email viruses are getting sneakier every year. Clicking the wrong link can send a devastating virus into your computer and corrupt all of your data. When your computer is connected to a network with poor security, that virus can then be transmitted to every other device on the network.
It cannot be understated how critical a secure Internet connection is for families and business owners. Your information is just too readily available to take the chance that you won't ever become a target. Even if you never come across a criminal, there are groups of bored teenagers with the skills to shut down servers just to pass the time. Make sure you are protected from whatever comes your way by keeping your access to the web as safe as possible.
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Source by Andrew Stratton
