There are many potentials security threats on a personal computer. These security threats are harmful to a personal computer because if successfully activated these attackers can retrieve your personal information and use it for their own use. These attacks can also slow down your personal computer and can eventually causing it to crash. If the computer crashes and you don’t have your information backed up somewhere you practically wont be able to retrieve your information. There are techniques that these attackers use to access information on your system.
Potential security threats start with people; people who create these threats are to blame. These people are called hackers and predators. Hackers and predators create security threats and malware. They are computer programmers who use these security threats and malware to victimize other people by breaking into their systems to steal, change or destroy information. This is known as cyber-terrorism. Due to these hackers and predators computers are vulnerable at any time. These people create things like. Computer virus threats, Spyware threats, Phishing threats, Internet Worms, Rootkit, Zombies, Browser Hijacker, Email Virus, Mousetrapping, Spam, and Adware. Out of all the computers security threats out there the most well known is computer virus threats. The virus is a program that alters how a computer operates. The virus replicates and executes itself, this usually does damage to your computer. Spyware threats are an undercover cop in a way because it monitors your online activity or it can install software without your permission to gain personal information. It does all that without you even knowing. Phishing threat is when a hacker attempts to steal information through email or instant messaging. They send emails or instant messages that look real to people or businesses. The hackers attempt to steal sensitive financial or personal information.
Internet worms effects computers that are on the same network; worms consume bandwidth and spread via your network. These worms can cause a server to crash, make a user’s files unusable or as known as corruption, or can create a backdoor on a target computer. Rootkit will run its utilities on your computer and you will not know its there because they avoid being detected. A rootkit can also create a backdoor on target computers, this allows a hacker to send things like spamming, emails or can use the target computer to preform a denial-of-service attack on servers. The way to detect a rootkit is to run a virus scanner while its not running. Zombies open a backdoor on your computer to allow hackers or predators to use the infected computer for malicious purposes without the owner’s knowledge. Browser hijackers have the knowledge to change your home page or search pages in your browser. Email virus can harm your computer when you open an email. Mousetrapping is when a website uses a script preventing the Internet user from leaving the website. Spam comes from your email and it’s the junk or bulk emails that comes from senders.
Attackers use social engineering to bypass technical defenses. The attackers persuade victims to release malicious things on your computer to benefit themselves. These attackers will tell the victims to open the following: malicious links, exploit-laden attachments and install malicious software. Attackers also have taking advantage of bugs in the web browser or in software that the web browser can invoke. Attackers exploit browser add-ons such as Flash and Java Runtime Environment (JRE).
These attackers have so many ways to penetrate a systems and its network. If we aren’t protected from these attacks then our lives can be ruined. The attackers are getting smarter and quicker due to the advances in technology and knowledge. There are so many options these hackers can choose from and we need to prepare ourselves in everyway possible. The way to do that is to keep your system up to date, have encrypted passwords, software protection on you system, be carful what web sites you browse and what emails you open up. The more secure you are with your system the better off you will be.

References
Computer Security Threats. Retrieved from http://www.webroot.com/En_US/consumer/articles/computer-security-threats Zeltser, L. Understanding Modern Computer Attack and Defense Techniques. Retrieved
From http://zeltser.com/computer-attacks-defenses/
Ten Computer Security Threats That Can Cost You A New PC. Retrieved from http://www.pcsndreams.com/Pages/Articles/PC_Threats.htm