The security strengths and weaknesses of the Internet Essay

The security strengths and weaknesses of the Internet - Essay Example Internet security is very important for a person who keeps or sends important data over the network. â€Å"A basic knowledge of internet security is essential for anyone who uses the web for tasks such as email, networking and shopping† (Paul). Importance of Internet Privacy Internet security has become one of the main concerns for every individual connected to the internet for any purpose. It is because there are a number of hackers present on the internet continuously trying to break into other computers in order to steal important data or to destroy the important data. Hacking has become so common in today’s world that almost every person who uses internet is a target of hackers. â€Å"Hacking is the process in which a system is tested before it goes into the market for direct use by the customers† (Douglas). Any individual, whether using internet for communication purposes or for information sharing, needs to ensure premium level internet security because hac kers not only try to break into such computers which contain highly critical information but also they try to gain control of such computers which although do not contain any important information but can be used to hack other computers. There are many security measures, which an individual can take to reduce the chances of internet attacks. â€Å"Internet security fundamentals are designed to protect individual Internet users from security risks which accompany use of the Internet† (Smith). Some of the easiest and most effective security measures include regularly changing the login passwords, setting difficult passwords, downloading a personal firewall, setting encryption standards, and installing up to date antivirus software. One can never deny the significance of internet security in today’s world. Internet privacy is one of the biggest concerns for any individual doing any kind of work on the internet. The issue of internet security or privacy is not just limited to big organizations and companies; rather it has become a need for any individual having online presence. â€Å"It is a common misconception that Internet security plays a large role only in organizations, or when people have sensitive information on their computers† (Sundaram). For online businesses, maintaining internet security is of extreme importance. Some of the key steps which every company should take while going online include registering an anonymous domain name, taking steps to protect online communications, making use of e-currency payment solutions, and ensuring local security along with online security. Implementing internet security measures is very important for any individual for many reasons. Some of the most significant reasons include keeping privacy of important information, not letting strangers to view personal information, being online with no fear, protecting personal and business emails, and doing business activities with optimum security. A very i mportant question related to internet security is that what can happen if a person does not care about internet security or why a person needs to implement effective internet security measures. The answer to the question is that if a person does not take steps to ensure internet security, he/she is likely to face many problems, such as, loss of important data, misuse of data, misuse of computer identity, receiving fake emails, receiving hazardous links, and loss of important files. Therefore, maintaining optimum