Firewall Hazards and Identity Theft

   Even though firewalls and many other computer security applications are meant to protect your personal information, they are anything but foolproof.

   Among other things, bugs in programs can be exploited by hackers, as can incomplete software programs that don't protect every area of your computer. In some cases, operator error also makes it very easy for hackers to get into a computer.

  It's nearly impossible to be 100% protected, but you can still do some things to protect your computerized information from identity theft.

Download Attacks That Target Security Software

 One of the easiest ways to circumvent a firewall or other security software is to slip dangerous code in with something that you want to download. For example, if you visit a website and choose to download a file, it may also come with a virus or malware program - unbeknownst to you. In some cases, the sole objective of the malicious content may be to replace legitimate files associated with your firewall with ones that will render it useless. Once the security software has been neutralized, a hacker can prowl around your computer at will and gain access to anything that you have.

 As you might expect, the best thing you can do is to refrain from downloading materials from sites that you don't trust. Because your computer stores cookies and files related to websites that you visit, your browser may actually store malicious software that you never intended to download. Therefore, it's also important to clear your cookies, browser history, and cached files on a regular basis. And while it may slow your computer down, consider leaving as little room for storage as possible - if there isn't space, the malicious software files won't be downloaded.

Mal-Ware and Ad-Ware

 While most of these programs don't do more than record the URL of websites that you visit for advertising purposes, there are other programs - called keyloggers - that log every keystroke that you make.

   As a result, if you type in credit card numbers, bank account numbers or even a private letter to a friend, someone at a remote computer may be able to gain access to this information. Unfortunately, these types of attacks are becoming more common every day.

  If you absolutely must keep sensitive information on your computer, it might be a good idea to keep all of it on a password-protected USB drive or flash drive. Then, whenever you need to work with this information, you can access it remotely - just make sure that you aren't connected to the internet. Also, perform the appropriate security scans and maintenance updates to be sure your information isn't still being housed somewhere on the hard drive.

   Computer security software is designed to be your front line of defense against online information thieves. Unfortunately, hackers often target the more popular programs and find ways to get into these systems with ease. As a result, you'll need to take extra precautions to limit the amount of personal information that's actually stored on your computer.

   You should also adjust the settings on your browser to make sure that it doesn't unintentionally harbor snippets of software that may put your information at risk.