Chapter 6

Unit 2
Homeland Security:
Computer Protection
Overview
Firewalls? Antivirus software? If these words are unfamiliar
to you, then your computer is at risk. In this chapter, you will
learn how to use security methods and critical thinking skills
to protect your computer from threats posed by hackers and
cybercriminals. A discussion of the importance of backing up
your computer and updating your security methods regularly
is included.

Key Terms
© B.E. Publishing, Inc. All rights reserved.

• Computer protection
• Firewall
• Antivirus software
• Updates
• Backing up

Chapter 6: Homeland Security: Computer Protection   75

 What Is Computer Protection?
In Chapter 5, you learned about different computer threats
that you might encounter when you’re online. But how do you
protect yourself from malware, spam, and phishing? Computer
protection means using a combination of methods to safeguard
your computer’s information from theft and other harmful
attacks, such as corrupted files and malware.

Did You Know? Security Methods

In 2012, 40% of
In order to protect your personal information and to ensure
households in the United your computer stays free of malicious software, you should
States were affected by obtain two very important security features: a firewall and
viruses, and nearly 24 antivirus software.
million households were
hit with heavy spam. ➊ Firewalls
Source: Statistic Brain Think of a firewall as a guard who protects a gate. It stands
between your computer’s network and the Internet, helping
to protect your computer from unauthorized access to your
network. Just like a guard, a firewall decides what to let in and
what to keep out. Firewalls make it more difficult for hackers
to break down your computer’s “gate” with malware and tap
into your computer’s network. For example, most schools use a
firewall to protect students from visiting inappropriate websites
and from receiving harmful emails, such as spam.

A good way to understand

the function of a firewall
is to imagine it as a literal
wall that surrounds your
computer, protecting it
from harm.
© B.E. Publishing, Inc. All rights reserved.

76  Cyber Literacy
➋ Antivirus Software
Antivirus software acts like a detective, searching for and
removing any malware. It also prevents malware from attaching

Chapter 6
to your computer in the first place and keeps viruses, worms,
and Trojan horses safely away from your files and applications.
Many new computers come with antivirus software trials, with
the option to purchase the software after the trial date ends.

Antivirus software
acts like a detective,
searching for and
removing any malware.
Shields of Protection
Making sure firewalls and antivirus software are in place
is a great first step toward protecting your computer from
potentially dangerous threats. But there’s even more you can do
to ensure your computer is safe from hazardous malware.
To build a strong shield of protection, remember these four
Ps: protect, prevent, prepare, and perceive.

➊ Protect
Safeguarding your computer means putting into action the best
available tools to secure and protect it from malicious attacks.
Listed below are security methods that you should use
regularly:
• Firewall: Make sure your computer has a firewall and that it
is turned on to keep hackers out of your network. Did You Know?
In 2000, a
• Antivirus software: Use antivirus software and keep it up
to date so that viruses can’t corrupt your files or software. 16–year–old resident of
• Operating system: Keep your operating system updated,
Miami, Florida, became
the first juvenile to be
© B.E. Publishing, Inc. All rights reserved.

because updates will offer the latest security protection.

• Downloads: Be careful what you download, transfer, or sentenced for a federal
save from the Internet. You never know what might be computer crime after
hiding in an attachment from someone you don’t know or hacking into NASA’s
in software that can be downloaded for free. computer system.
Source: IT Security

Chapter 6: Homeland Security: Computer Protection   77

 ➋ Prevent
Preparing for the worst may seem unnecessary, but by
taking a few precautionary steps, you can make certain your
computer is well shielded if malware tries to attack:

• Backing up: Backing up your files means making copies of

the data that is on your computer. By duplicating files and
important computer software programs, you ensure that
you will always have a copy of everything that is on your
computer in case it ever becomes infected with malware.
There are many different tools available to assist people in
backing up their files, from external hard drives to online
storage. After you research which back–up method is right
for you, you can select one that can protect your important
files.
• Turn off: This tip is often overlooked, but it is a surefire
way to keep hackers at bay. When you are finished using
Remember: a computer, turn it off. When you turn a computer off, you
To build a strong cut off its connection to potential dangers.
shield of
protection, ➌ Prepare
use the four Ps— The best way to protect your computer is to stay informed
about the latest computer security methods and to update
protect, prevent, your security programs regularly:
prepare,
and perceive. • Keep current: Stay informed about new computer security
methods. As technology evolves, so do security methods. If
appropriate, add new programs to your list of defenses or
replace old programs with new, more effective ones.
• Watch for updates: Always check for updates to all
security products, software programs, and operating
systems. Technology changes quickly, and updates allow
you to receive the latest and most thorough protection.
• Report it: If you do experience something suspicious, be
sure to report it to your Internet service provider. Reporting
it not only helps you, but it could also help prevent
malware from spreading to other users too. © B.E. Publishing, Inc. All rights reserved.

78  Cyber Literacy
➍ Perceive
Not only does it help to be knowledgeable about the latest

Chapter 6
computer security programs, but it also pays to use your
instincts whenever you encounter uncertain situations:

• Critical thinking: We encounter many different things on

the Web, from advertisements to social networking sites. In
any online situation, using critical thinking skills to assess
potential dangers is one way to avoid vulnerability. When
you visit sites on the Web, watch for warning signs that
might indicate the presence of malware or other computer
threats. Think about how certain actions can jeopardize
your safety when surfing the Web, and exercise good
judgment.
• Evaluate: Always evaluate online encounters and use
common sense before acting. For example, if you receive
an email that looks like it might be part of a phishing
scheme, evaluate it carefully before you decide whether
to open it. There are many threats lurking on the Web,
but by evaluating each encounter we face, we can make
thoughtful decisions to protect ourselves.

What Else Can I Do

If you forget to log out of
to Protect Myself? your personal accounts
Using common sense and good judgment while surfing the while using a public
Web is important, but so are our actions. We can accidentally computer, the next person
create windows for malware or hackers to get in if we’re not to use the computer
careful about protecting our information and accounts. Ways to will have access to your
minimize risk are listed below: accounts.▼
• Always password–protect
your wireless network.
• Change your passwords
often, and make sure they
are unique.
• Always remember to log out © B.E. Publishing, Inc. All rights reserved.

of accounts when using a

public computer.

Chapter 6: Homeland Security: Computer Protection   79

 Make a Protection Plan
The best approach to protecting yourself and your computer
is to take action before anything bad happens. If you wait until
your computer is infected with malware, your files or software
could become corrupted before you can fix the problem. Be
proactive: Outline a security plan that ensures your computer
will be protected even if a threat does appear.
When you’re making a plan to protect your computer, ask
yourself the questions shown in Figure 6.1.

Figure 6.1

Am I Prepared?
❏ Do I have a firewall?
❏ Do I have antivirus software?
❏ Do I back up files?
❏ Do I check for updates regularly?
Be Prepared: ❏ Do I turn off the computer when I’m
Having backups finished?
of your important ❏ Do I use unique passwords?
files and software ❏ Do I change passwords frequently (at
will ensure least every few months)?
that you will be
❏ Do I exercise good judgment while
able to restore using the Internet?
your system
after a malware
❏ Do I stay up to date with new security
methods?
infection.
❏ Do I evaluate situations with critical
thinking before acting?
❏ Do I report suspicious activities?
❏ Do I follow good downloading © B.E. Publishing, Inc. All rights reserved.
practices?

80  Cyber Literacy
 Chapter 6 Assessment

Chapter 6
What Do You Think?
Create a cyber protection plan for your computer by writing a three–
to five–paragraph response to the questions below:

➊ What security measures do you currently practice?

Assessment
➋ What security measures should you take to protect yourself? Why?
➌ If you have a computer at home, does it have a firewall? How would
you describe its effectiveness?
➍ If you have a computer at home, does it have antivirus software? How
would you describe its effectiveness?

Challenge: In this chapter, you learned about how to protect your

What Would computer from various threats. Now, apply what you
have learned. Read the scenario below and write one
You Do? paragraph explaining what you would do if faced with a
similar situation. Use examples from the chapter to justify
your reasoning.

Scenario:
Colin gets an email message with a subject line reading “Awesome
Pictures!” He’s been waiting for his friend to send pictures from a concert
they went to last week, so he opens the email without checking who sent
it, assuming it must be from his friend. The email contains a link telling
© B.E. Publishing, Inc. All rights reserved.

him to click on it to view pictures. The link takes him to a website selling
TVs at discount rates, and pop–ups start flooding his screen. The pop–ups
advertise high–resolution TVs. Colin tries to exit out of the windows, but
more keep popping up.
What should Colin have done differently in this case? What would you
do if you received a similar email?

Chapter 6: Assessment  81
 Extension Activities

Activity 1 Multiple Choice

Read the questions below. Use what you have learned in this
chapter to help you choose the correct answer.

➊ How many households in the United States are affected by

computer viruses?
A. 10%
B. 55%
C. 40%

➋ What does antivirus software do?

A. It automatically changes passwords on computer accounts
every few months.
B. It searches for, removes, and prevents malicious software
from attaching itself to a computer’s files.
C. It backs up computer data and files.

➌ What should you do if you come across something suspicious

online?
A. Report it to your Internet service provider.
B. Click on it to see what it is.
C. Email it to a friend so he or she can help you decide.

➍ Which of the following will NOT help you protect your computer?
A. Turn off your computer after using it.
B. Install updates regularly.
C. Keep passwords the same so you can remember them.

➎ Which of the following is an action that will best help you

safeguard your computer? © B.E. Publishing, Inc. All rights reserved.
A. Don’t use the Internet so that malware cannot damage
your computer.
B. Put into action the best available tools to protect the
computer from malicious attacks.
C. Wait until your computer is attacked and then install
malware protection.

82  Cyber Literacy
 Chapter 6
Activity 2 Short Answer

Write a one– or two–sentence response to each of the prompts

below.

Assessment
➊ Explain the concept of computer protection.

➋ Describe the four Ps of protection.

➌ Identify the difference between firewalls and antivirus

software.

➍ Explain why it is important to use critical thinking skills while

surfing the Web.

➎ Explain why it is important to back up your computer.

Activity 3 Security Protection

Using what you have learned in this chapter, match each security
measure with its correct definition.

➊ Computer protection ➋ Antivirus software ➌ Firewall

➍ Backing up ➎ Passwords ➏ Updates
A. To make a copy of files, software, and other data on a computer
B. A combination of methods used to safeguard and protect a computer’s information
from theft and other harmful attacks, such as corrupted files and malware
C. Items we should change often, keep unique, and assign to our wireless network
D. A security method that searches for and removes malicious software
E. A prevention method that keeps all software, computer programs, and operating
© B.E. Publishing, Inc. All rights reserved.

systems current
F. A security method that acts like a guard and is used to protect computer networks
from unauthorized access
continued

Chapter 6: Assessment  83
 Extension Activities

Activity 4 Letter of Advice

Imagine you have a friend who is buying a computer for the first
time. Write him a three–paragraph letter of advice explaining what
tools and techniques he can use to ensure his computer is well
protected. In your letter, address the following questions:

➊ What security methods are available, and which ones should

your friend use?

➋ What are the four Ps of protection, and why should your friend
follow them?

➌ How does a protection plan prevent malicious attacks?

© B.E. Publishing, Inc. All rights reserved.

84  Cyber Literacy
 Hands-On

Chapter 6
Create a Board Game
Working with a small group of classmates, design a board game that
incorporates the information you learned in both Chapters 5 and 6.
Your game should include the following:

Assessment
• Malware threats to computers, such as viruses, Trojan horses,
worms, spyware, and adware
• Other threats to computers, such as phishing, pharming, and
pop–ups
• Methods of protecting your computer from harm, such as firewalls,
antivirus software, and updates

You might consider shaping elements of the game around what

happens to computers when they do fall victim to malware and other
computer threats:
• Zombies
• Bots
• Botnets

Consider what materials you want to use to create your game.

You could:
• Use poster board to make all the elements of the game.
• Bring in materials from home to use instead.
• Use a software application to create the game.

After all groups have created their board games,

groups should play one another’s games.

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Chapter 6: Assessment  85