Hackers attack where they see weakness. A system that hasn't been updated recently has flaws in it that can be taken advantage of by hackers

 

Firewalls forbid outside threats such as hackers and viruses from gaining access to your system. Personalize your firewall settings during the setup process to reflect how much data you want to allow into your system from the Internet, and update your firewall regularly. 

 Use a different password for each website you regularly log into, and make sure your passwords are long and intricate so that they're harder to guess. It's especially important to keep your banking and other financial accounts secure. 

 Many computers come pre-installed with certain anti-virus software, but if not, or if you want more powerful software, research online to find what product suits you. Anti-virus software is crucial to keep your computer healthy. A "sick" computer, or one racked with viruses, is more susceptible to hacking. Set your preferences so your anti-virus software updates automatically. 

This type of intrusion is not as dangerous as a virus, but adware places advertisements onto your browser and incorporates pop-ups into your programs. This can slow down your computer, making you vulnerable to a hacker. Spyware can survey your Internet behavior and copy your passwords to use for illegitimate purposes. 

Never click on an emailed link that looks questionable. It may be a virus.