Help power point

1. Help power point

2. Dangers when using technology • So far we have looked at the dangers to yourselvesof using social networking websites and cyber bullying. • There are other dangers when using the internet and these involve the dangers to the technology. • There are programs which are designed to cause damage to your computer or mobile phone and the data that you have on them.

3. What is a virus? • A virusis a program that “infects”your computer. • It can be caught by opening anemail attachment from somebodyyou don’t know, downloadingfree software from the internet or using somebody else's USB memory stick that has not been checked. • Viruses copy themselves to take up space on your computer and slow it down and can cause damage to your computer by deletingor corrupting your data.

4. How can you get rid of a virus? • It is far better to stop getting a virus in the first place and this can be done by installing a “virus checker” onto your computer. • This looks at all emails, files and memory sticks to check they are free of viruses. • It also can be used to look through existing files on your system to check for viruses. • It is important to updateyour virus checker regularly so that it can look for the latest viruses which have been invented.

5. Other threats to your computer • Worms • They can travel along any network including the internet so you should protect your system using a firewalland up-to-date virus checking. • They copy themselves to use up the space in your computer and slow it down. • Trojan • This is software that pretends to be something fun or useful, so the user downloadsit, but actually it does something else.

6. How can you catch them? Manages to get onto the system when an unchecked USB drive or email attachment is opened Virus Creeps along the network and gets into the system secretly without the user doing anything. Worm This pretends to be a fun or useful free software that the user downloads but actually does something else. Trojan

7. What damage can they do? • Copy themselves so they take up space and slow down your computer. • Delete or corrupt files on your system. • Send nasty emails pretending to be from you to people in your address book. • Record all the keys you press and send this back to somebody (known as key logging) so they know your log in details, passwords, credit card details etc. so they can take money out of your bank account.

8. How can you prevent this? • Install a virus checker on your system. • Update it regularly so that it knows about the latest viruses etc. to look for. • Install a Firewallon your computer which prevents worms from finding their way into your system. • Do not open emailsfrom people you do not know. • Do not downloadfree software onto your computer. • Aska parent or guardian before you download anything from the internet.