Hackers always try to find new ways of infiltrating networks and systems. Brute force hacking is now getting tougher and requires more processing power. This has led to a great shift to spyware as they reduce the effort a hacker needs to gain access to your credentials. Spyware software main aim is collecting its victim’s information and sending it to the hacker. The hacker then sells your credentials on the Darknet or decides to steal personally from you. Despite the internet safety standards being set very high, hackers always find loopholes. Here’s how you can protect yourself from spyware.

Avoid installing cracked software
Pirated software seems to save us a few extra bucks, but in essence, we could end up losing more money. A majority of cracked software’s found on torrents could have been altered and fitted with a trojan. Hackers love this trick since they will have access to tons of systems. The trojan could help the hacker gain access to your computer and monitor your traffic. An up to date antivirus can have a hard time distinguishing if the program is indeed malicious. Most of these cracks go undetected and when your antivirus finally notes that the program you have installed is indeed a virus it could be too late. We are always advised to use genuine software, but sometimes they are too expensive. Fortunately for us they are tons of freeware out there. Always use an open source software alternatives if you can’t afford a particular software.

Always update your computer
Software updates can be nagging, but software firms roll them out to fix security issues with a current software. Software firms use teams of white hat hackers to look into the security vulnerabilities of their software. They will always find a problem with your current software and roll out a patch. Updating your software will ensure that hackers have a hard time infiltrating your system. Your antivirus alone won’t be an effective shield against hackers.  This is why there are special software programs to identify and remove Spyware and Malware software, which are different than viruses.  Browsers and other applications that heavily rely on the internet should always be updated. Updates are not always viewed positively since a perfectly working app will start to lag. This has led many software users shy away from upgrading their software when there is an update.

Use a VPN when on the internet
Virtual private networks anonymize your internet traffic, making it harder to track you. VPNs are gaining popularity due to their safety and data encryption. Any spyware is transmitting data from your computer, and the data reaches the hacker will be complete gibberish. There are many companies offering VPN services on the internet, but at a fee. TOR browser is a free option in making your browsing completely anonymous. Even the NSA has a hard tracking TOR browser users.

Install a firewall
Some antivirus software come ready with a firewall extension. Firewalls monitor the outgoing and incoming network traffic, thus keeping us the user safe. They establish a secure internal connection with an external connection. Firewalls make harder for viruses and trojans leaking out your information. Data sniffers also have a hard time intercepting any data packets sent over the internet. Most operating systems already come with firewalls, but you may opt to install a stronger one.

High school students often dread taking classes to learn a second language because learning another language is perceived as being difficult. In fact, students tend to avoid taking language classes if they are not required locally or necessary to get into a specific college program. At the same time, children being raised in bilingual homes tend to become proficient speakers of both languages at an early age. Is there a rational to explain why that happens?

The short answer is yes. Studies have repeatedly shown very children are more adept at learning new skills, including languages. As they age, the argument goes, people become more set in their ways and tend to question things rather than simply absorbing them like toddlers do. While everyone accepts what they’ve already learned, that knowledge becomes a filter for new learning.

A recent study demonstrated that when very young children are exposed to a new language they also develop an enhanced ability to empathize with others. The relationship between being exposed to the new language and increased empathetic abilities is quite strong. In other words, not only does the child learn another language, they also develop a more sophisticated non-verbal ability to communicate. Is it logical to assume the new skills are directly related to that open-mindedness children enjoy?

On the other hand, when older individuals, like high school students and adults, learn a new language, that enhanced ability to empathize does not seem to automatically piggyback on the new language skill. However, logic dictates that learning about a new culture while learning a new language would make virtually anyone better able to understand the new culture. In other words, language learners would, in fact, become somewhat more able to empathize with members of the new culture. So, while older individuals arguably are able to better empathize with another culture, that ability may not be at the same level a very young learner experiences.

In the long run, however, the important thing is to learn something new. Learning a new language at any age exposes the learner to new ideas and concepts. That alone makes learning a new language worth the effort. Anyone expecting to travel or look for a new career will also benefit directly from learning a new language. Whatever the reason for learning another language, the benefits far outweigh the effort involved.

Learning a new language can be done in the comfort of your own home thanks to new technology and the availability of language learning software for personal computers, iphones and other mobile devices.  Check out Little Language Site for more information on the latest language learning software as well as updates to language learning philosophy.  They also have great articles on linguistics and linguistic theories.

Although the concept of hacking brings to mind seedy characters working to steal from unsuspecting computer users, that is not always an accurate portrayal of hacking. As with other segments of society, there are hackers working in the background to protect governments, businesses and individuals. In fact, without hackers, many past improvements in software may not have occurred. In the U.S., unlike some other parts of the world, the term hacker is synonymous with dishonesty. It’s important to recognize the good, as well as the bad, results of hacking.

First, computer users need to understand exactly what hacking is. In a nutshell, hacking is nothing more than looking for vulnerabilities in software and determining how those vulnerabilities can be exploited. In other words, hackers are software programmers using their skills to explore existing software to find holes in the software’s security. Determining if those skills are used to benefit software users or exploit them defines whether hackers are good or bad.

Even the worst hackers, however, force improvements in software to minimize future issues. In the computer industry, hackers seeking personal gain from hacking are referred to as black hat hackers. Just like the old cowboy movies, the good guys fighting for justice are known as white hat hackers. The distinction is important, as white hat hackers, like their nefarious counterparts, are highly skilled at finding weaknesses in software, but white hat hacking is generally done at the behest of businesses or governments to safeguard data and funds.

In the past, both businesses and governmental agencies tended to be reactive rather than proactive. However, with the recent attacks on major corporations and the U.S. government, that may change. In fact, industry insiders routinely suggest reacting to unauthorized intrusions is no longer sufficient. White hat hackers, for years, have told industries and governments their security was, at best, weak. Only when the losses from failing to initiate security protocols become greater than the costs of designing better security measures are industries likely to turn to hackers, as experts, for help.

Today, computer users ask, are hackers good or bad? That question is too complex to answer with a one-word response, but the simple fact is that hackers, good and bad, have the ability to push software solutions to new levels not even dreamed of by average users. Industry experts must, soon, grasp the importance of the role hackers play in software security.