Internet security is a term that refers to methods aimed at protecting data and personal information from unauthorized access. Considering the worldwide usage of the Internet, security on this platform is an important issue. Netizens need to be well aware of the problems associated with online security. Internet Security Measures Here's an overview of the most important security measures and technologies widely implemented over the Internet. Implementing one or more of these methods will go a long way in securing your data online. Data Encryption: Encryption is wrapping up or converting the original information into an unintelligible form that can only be decoded using a certain method. The encrypted form is called cipher text. Password Usage: Passwords are used to prevent illegal access to networks to secure the entire system as a whole. Construction of passwords should be in a way that the other people do not easily guess it. Alphanumeric passwords with symbols used in between can be harder to crack. Firewalls: A firewall is a software that filters illegitimate access in a network. It should be properly configured and has to be combined with a proxy firewall to build a secure system. Backing up Data: Regular data backup of a system is an essential that can help retrieve data in the event of a system crash. If the computer suddenly crashes or the operating system fails to boot due to a virus attack, the data backup can really come in handy. Using Antivirus Software: Computers may be affected by viruses, trojans, worms etc. due to some infected files downloaded from the Internet. These viruses are nothing but programs that install themselves and operate whenever the host programs run, causing malicious attacks. The viruses either replicate or implement a function that affects the system files of the computer, leading to corruption of the operating system, in some cases. These viruses can be removed by using antivirus software that detects and removes them, to heal the system. These software programs run in the background, along with other programs to prevent malicious attacks. Avoiding Baleful Links: People can prevent their system from getting affected by a virus, by avoiding clicking on unnecessary links, often mediated via emails and websites. Certain links may lead to file downloads unexpectedly. These pose a security risk to your computer, and hence should be avoided. Routers with Encryption Facility: Using routers with in-built encryption technology can secure your your wireless Internet connection and prevent snooping by external sources. Preventing Spyware: Several software programs pose a threat to Internet security. The software that runs along with other applications, without the permission of a user, gathering information and sending it to hackers through the internet, is known as spyware. Another software called ad-ware works similar to spyware. In addition, it pops up advertisements during Internet access and increases the CPU cycles, slowing down the computer. Antivirus software, with inbuilt antispyware or adware removal functionality, can be of great help in preventing such intrusions. Using antivirus and antivirus software alone will not prevent the intrusion of viruses. Personal caution is also required while using Internet. Unwanted sites and potentially harmful links have to be avoided. Automatic updates should be enabled for the antivirus software, so that it is up-to-date in terms of known virus threats. All this will greatly enhance the security level of your system.