Flaws, commonly called 'bugs' or 'security holes', in the operating system on your computer (think Windows or Mac OS X) are being discovered almost daily. A majority of viruses take advantage of these flaws to infect your computer, most of which could be fixed simply by checking for updates for your software. One of the best security measures you can take for your computer is to make sure you get the latest critical updates by setting your computer to check automatically.

Another good security measure is to run a firewall program on your computer. A firewall is a device or program that blocks undesired Internet traffic, such as viruses, from accessing your computer. Both Windows and Mac OS X have built in firewall programs, which are a snap to set up. By blocking unwanted Internet traffic, this can stop a lot of viruses and worms dead in their tracks!

Finally, we'll go over how to manage user accounts on your computer, so you know exactly who can log into your machine. Especially on Windows XP machines, it's easy to accidentally leave your computer wide open to whoever wants it.

What is an Operating System

The simplest explanation of an operating system, is that it is a go between for software and hardware. Without an operating system each piece of software would need to have specific instructions for how to use every type of hardware on the market.

However, not since the first operating systems have they only acted as the go between. Modern day operating systems also include lots of inbuilt software that allows for more usability and security. In particular both Mac OS X and Windows XP (and later versions) include software that is meant to prevent malicious software from access your computer.

What your OS can do for you

These inbuilt firewalls, prevent viruses and other harmfull software from entering your computer. These viruses and other harmful software are always growing and adapting, for this reason it is important to keep your your firewall updated to insure security. An operating system that is out of date is vulnerable to new viruses, once these viruses enter your system they are much harder to remove than if they had been caught in the first place.