WHAT ARE COMPUTERS AND COMPUTER NETWORKS A computer stores displays and processes information Computers come in many forms We use desktops laptops tablets or smartphones at home at school and at work Computers help with manufacturing products keeping records communicating and banking Computers can be fun too We use computers to shop to listen to music and to play games A computer network is a collection of computers that are connected to each other They All of these devices are computers They are each used for different reasons and some are more mobile than others 4
The computers in this computer lab have access to the internet and to a local area network communicate with each other electronically The internet is one example of a network Communicating between computers through the internet happens in ways that the user usually controls However using the internet is not always safe It is important to know how to make computers safer Think About It Think about what would happen if you and your family went through a day without using a computer at all What would you do What activities would you have to do differently 5
PHYSICAL HARM Computers can be damaged in many different ways A person can pour water on a device hit it with a hard object or drop it Computers can also be stolen A smartphone can be taken from out of a person’s pocket or a laptop may be swiped from an unattended chair in a restaurant There are many other ways a computer may be stolen Laws clearly explain punishments for people who steal or deliberately damage physical property such as computers However people can also damage computers through software A hacker or a person 6 A Kensington lock will keep a device secure while left in an open area if it is locked to furniture
Malware can come from running a program or downloading files from a flash drive like the one pictured Think About It How do you and your family protect your electronic devices who breaks into computer systems can download and install destructive software on a user’s computer without taking the computer They can also download files in this kind of attack Hackers can also delete some or all of the computer owner’s files 7
