You would never willingly let a theft rob you. You would not let your work get away with not paying you. You would never give someone your social security and bank account number and except them to be polite with the information. If you are leaving your computer unprotected, you are leaving your most personal information open to malware.
Malware is designed by hackers to be downloaded onto your computer and steal your personal information. This gives the hackers complete access to information that can lead to identity. There are a number of ways to protect you from malware.
First, make sure your computer is protected by trusted software to keep malware from getting onto your computer. Never download a program just because it pops up on your screen when you are surfing the web. Instead, do a little research and find the best software available for all of your protection needs.
Second, make sure that your software is being updated on a regular basis. An unloaded gun is no good if it does not have bullets in it. It is the same with software not updated. This includes security updates for your laptop, usually Microsoft will routinely update, your firewall, antivirus and anti-spyware scanners, and more. Internet threats are always changes and the best way for you to be protected is to keep your security updated and strong.
Third, use strong passwords for logging into your computer, email, social networks, and other sites. Malware and other online threats are commonly spread through email attachments from family, friends, and even strangers. Keep a close eye on email and if you do not recognize an email address, do not open it. Also, if you think you have been hacked, change your password immediately and let anyone who could have been affected know. Make sure to include numerals, letters, and capitalization in your passwords to make it harder for people to guess them.