Why are computers not secure?

The computer is one of the most powerful inventions that man has ever created. It has become an integral part of our lives and we cannot imagine living without it. We use computers for almost everything from browsing the internet to sending emails, from creating documents to reading books, from watching movies to listening to music, from playing games to making payments, and so on.

The computer has made our life easy and convenient but at the same time, it has also made us vulnerable. The increased use of computers and the Internet of things (IoT) has also increased their security risks. The fact that the internet is not safe has been proved by various incidents where hackers have stolen sensitive information like credit card numbers and passwords of various websites or compromised a smart building.

The goal of this article is to provide you with information about why computers are not secure and how you can protect your computer. There are many reasons why computers are not secure but before we discuss that, let’s define computer security.

What is computer security?

Computer security is the protection of computers, data, and networks from damage or unauthorized access. In practice, this means detecting and correcting security breaches. Computer security protects all aspects of a computer system. Computer security is sometimes referred to as cybersecurity. Computer security is a broad concept that encompasses all aspects of protecting computers from accidental or deliberate harm. It includes physical, software, and personnel security measures.

Physical security measures include locks on doors and secure areas of buildings to protect against theft; firewalls to protect against unauthorized access from the Internet; and intrusion detection systems to detect unauthorized network traffic or attempted intrusions by hackers.

Software security refers to such things as encryption to ensure sensitive data is protected from prying eyes, password protection to prevent unauthorized access by others, anti-virus software to protect against malicious software, denial-of-service attacks, and other forms of computer crime. 

Personnel security includes training employees about internal and external threats, safe use practices like not sharing passwords with anyone else, right privilege access to systems, and other steps that protect workers from threats posed by their peers or even themselves (e.g., one employee stealing another’s identity).

Why are computers not secure?

Here are some of the reasons why computers are not secure:

1. They are made by humans

The main reason why computers are not secure is that they are made by humans, who are fallible and can be corrupted. Humans are imperfect creatures who make mistakes, and sometimes these mistakes result in security breaches when using computers.

For example, if someone wants to hack into your bank account and steal your money, he could do so easily after exploiting the loopholes around you, no matter how intangible they may be. This shows how easily hackers can gain access to unprotected systems through human error.

2. Software bugs and design flaws

This is another reason why computers are not secure. Software bugs and design flaws in operating systems or applications allow hackers to carry out zero-day attacks. Since the software is usually written by humans who are not perfect, it is difficult to ensure that all bugs will be eliminated before release into production environments where they can cause harm.

An attacker can compromise any computer connected to the internet by exploiting bugs in its software or network services (such as open ports). This includes smartphones and tablets which are now commonly used for work purposes by many people worldwide.

3. Handshake between applications

Another reason why computers are not secure is that modern operating systems come with a lot of built-in features which allow applications to communicate with each other. This makes it very easy for malicious software to spread quickly – one infected application can easily infect other applications in the system due to the constant handshake between them.

4. The operating system is not secure

The operating system (OS) is the foundation of your computer. It’s what allows you to open and close apps, run programs and do everything else on your computer. The problem is that most operating systems are not secure by default. They’re built to make it easy for developers to create apps and add new features, but this means there are often security holes in the OS itself.

If someone finds one of these holes and exploits it, they can access your personal information or even take over your computer (ransomware attack).

5. User-triggered attacks.

A user can provide input that triggers an attack against their computer (e.g., clicking on a link to download software).

This is known as “user-triggered” or “self-directed” attacks. For this to work, the attacker must have access to the victim’s computer and know how to exploit it. The attacker can do this with a simple web browser or through email.

What are the ways of protecting a computer?

1. Use updated software

One of the best ways of protecting your computer from all types of cyber threats is by using updated software. If your operating system or any other software installed on your machine is not up to date then you are at risk of being hacked easily.

Hackers use this technique for stealing data from computers that have old versions of software installed on them or software with end-of-life state (e.g. Windows XP). So always update your operating system or any other software installed on your computer regularly to stay safe from malicious attacks.

2. Prioritize using a firewall

A firewall is a system that protects your computer from people who try to break into it. It’s like the bouncer at a nightclub: They are there to keep out the undesirables and make sure that only those who are invited can get in. Firewalls look for suspicious activity on your computer, such as someone trying to access your data or trying to install software that could harm your computer. If they find anything suspicious, they can stop it from happening, depending on the nature of the firewall.

To protect your computer, ensure you get a firewall installed in it.

3. Avoiding illegal downloads

Pirated materials are often loaded with viruses and other malicious programs designed to steal your personal information. If you do not have the software that you want or need, you may be tempted to download it illegally. This can be extremely dangerous as more than half of all malware comes from illegal downloads. Some of these downloads may also contain spyware or other malicious programs that allow unauthorized access to your system.

Conclusion

Computers are not secure because there are so many vulnerabilities in computer systems. The operating system has a lot of undiscovered backdoors that can be exploited by hackers and malicious software which allows them to gain access to your computer.

There are also many vulnerabilities in the application layer which allows hackers to gain access to sensitive information such as passwords and personal information. There are many ways to protect yourself from these threats, including updating your antivirus software, installing firewalls, using two-factor authentication, and using strong passwords. However, there will always be some risks associated with using computers and the internet because there will always be new threats emerging every day. Use wisely!

Our Research Analyst: Endurance Igbru