Computer Note Book

You have probably noticed the term "encryption" when using the Internet to purchase a product online or using a web site that holds information related to your banking accounts. Encryption is simply a way of encoding - or disguising - information that is sent to and from computers to prevent hackers from intercepting and reading it. This keeps that information unusable in the hands of people attempting to crack it for reasons that are not legitimate.

Encryption also is data encoding in the form of access levels on your computer. Most computer experts agree that variations on these access levels are vital to avoid fraudulent activities on your computer through the Internet. To have an access level means that each person using your computer will have a level of permissions to the sites they can access or which applications they can use. Administrators - normally the computer owners - have the highest level of permissions on a computer while other users on that same computer are granted lower levels of permission and access to critical functions.

Access levels are typically determined by the administrator, the person who approves and grants each person’s access level. So, if you are working for a large business with a shared network, you may need to gain access to certain web sites or applications through the person who is designated the administrator. If you don’t know who that person is, check with your company help desk.

Unfortunately, many business owners are oblivious to the dangers of granting others access levels higher than they need to perform their assigned job functions. When this happens, regular users can inadvertently download harmful viruses, allow hackers entrance to the entire computer system, or tinker with applications they should not even see. (Think HR personnel files.) This carelessness can essentially result in a wiping out of any information on the computer; or worse yet, confidential information may be distributed throughout the Internet, leaving you vulnerable to abuse of that data.

To avoid this, the administrator needs to modify the default settings on the computer, web sites, and applications which are often not set safely enough to avoid major threats. These settings if not made more secure can easily be hacked into by computer program users looking for information to steal or destroy. Additionally, the administrator needs to use an encryption algorithm discussed above to prevent hacker access to your important information such as credit cards, passwords, or any other data or program on the computer system.

Learning how to vary your computer’s access levels can protect your business as well as salvage your sanity.