Note: This page is not 100 % accurate, but it’s not preaching to the converted.

Security in IT is so vast, that there is no simple way of explain how things work. There are many concepts (firewalls, routers, network address translation, TCP/IP, malware, and the list goes on and on), and non technical users are simply not interested in learning all this in order to setup a home network in a secure manner. I always get the traditional "So what if I get hacked", or "I don't have anything on my computer", so it's always a long haul.

So here it goes, my attempt to explain why it's important.

1. Identity theft. More and more people get their names and credit card information stolen. You probably avoid walking at night in known dangerous places in your own city because it's not wise and probably dangerous, even if chances are quite good that nothing will happen. The internet is ONLY that dark alley. The web is not what you see via Internet Explorer or Firefox. It's really much more complex than http access (Internet explorer).

Here is an official document http://www.consumer.gov/sentinel/pubs/Top10Fraud2005.pdf
Or the official site: http://www.consumer.gov/sentinel

2. Cyber crime is real. Your computer could be used as a relay to attack governments, banks, agencies, etc. It's called a DDoS (Distributed Denial of Service). In short, some hacker will install a small application on your friendly and unprotected computer which will allow him to use your computer, with thousands of other computers like yours, to attack some third party. Or, it could be used as a web server, promoting some very bad material. And no, you will not have a say in it. Those are just examples how someone can misuse your computer, there are many more and possibly better examples, but my goal is to keep it short.

Here are the basics for safer networking

1. Since all this bad stuff happens on the Internet, fix the problem at the source. Always isolate your computer from the internet with a router/firewall. In short, a DSL or Cable router will become your first line of defense. The devices are not expensive and will by default block all incoming connections. It's like keeping the door to your house closed.

2. Use an anti virus software, I recommend Avast home edition. It's free and it works well.

3. Turn on your firewall. Windows or Mac come with simple firewalls, turn them on. There are many reasons, but in short it will keep your computer safer on your network.

4. Install an anti-spyware software. I recommend "Spybot Search & Destroy", it's also free.

After that, it's all education. Don't post your personal information on the web, don't open "phishy" e-mails and always make backups. Security is not a product, you must be responsible and at least try to understand how things work. The internet, like I said, is a very big dark alley and the vast majority of users have no valid driving license.