It wasn’t until a few years ago that we had to start really worrying about hackers. As the Internet age evolved, numerous individuals started working hard to break into home computers and install harmful viruses and controls. At first, there weren’t many ways consumers could protect themselves from these hackers, but over the years, tech-savvy individuals have learned efficient ways to combat these malicious hackers and their viruses. In order to stop by viruses and hackers dead in their tracks, it’s best to be aware of how to protect your computer from intrusions. Read on to learn four simple ways you can protect your computer from hackers.

Update your software on a regular basis

I know how annoying it is to have a pop-up message remind you that it’s time to update your computer, but keep in mind, updating your computer is one of the most effective ways to protect your computer from viruses. In fact, there are many new hacking tricks that are created every day, and your computer must be updated on a regular basis to know how to manage these up-and-coming threats. Update your computer whenever your computer reminds you to and make sure an anti-virus program is set to automatically update itself. If you regularly update your computer, the chances of it getting infected will go down significantly.

Install anti-virus protections

This goes without saying, but then again, it must be emphasized: If you don’t already have anti-virus software installed on your computer, you’re basically asking a virus or hacker to come along and infect your computer. There are a lot of anti-virus programs out there, so it’s best to do some research into the right ones for you and your computer. Don’t worry about the anti-virus programs being too expensive, either. There are a number of free anti-virus programs that are worth a consideration. As I’ve already said, make sure to do your research before you settle on one.

Automatically delete strange-looking emails

I get hundreds of emails a day and sometimes those emails come from weird email addresses or contain awkward subject lines. If you receive a strange email, don’t even bother to open the email; do yourself and your computer a favor and just delete it. You might worry that it’s important, but trust me, it’s better to trust your gut. Secondly, never open an attachment or file in email unless it’s from someone you know and trust. If you aren’t sure the email was sent from them, send them a quick email reply or text them and ask if they sent you a file. Furthermore, be on the lookout for anyone pretending to be from a professional entity, such as a bank or government group, asking you for highly personal information like a bank account number or social security number.

Password protect your wireless network and logins

When you sign up for a wireless account, in all likelihood your wireless router won’t come password protected. Though it will take a few minutes of your time, be sure to install a password on your wireless account. Not only will this prevent people from bumming off your wireless Internet, it’ll also prevent anyone from hacking into your home network and accessing all of your personal information. There are stronger encryption options available, but if you don’t want to deal with installing those, at the very least make install a password on your router. In addition to your wireless router, you should install complex login passwords, especially on your bank account, Facebook, email, etc. Having a complex password makes it extremely difficult for a hacker to work their way into your computer.

These are just some of the many ways to prevent your computer from being infected by malicious viruses and hackers.

This guest post is compliments of Silvia Brooks, a busy mother who keeps a watchful eye over her children. She contributes to www.homesecurity.org and is passionate about empowering families to take control of their safety by investing in quality security technology. You can reach out to Silvia by leaving a comment.