Statewide Iowa — Many college freshmen across Iowa are getting their first taste of freedom on new computers this fall, but they need to be careful with trying to find free files and programs online.
Consumer protection specialist Lara Sutherlin says file-sharing programs can leave your computer open to being hacked.
Having up to date malware protection and firewalls on your PC or tablet is a good first start to keeping yourself safe.
Sutherlin says improperly setting up file-sharing programs could leave parts of your computer open to the internet that you’d rather have kept private.
Many websites that claim to host pirated games or movies also pack malware alongside those files, she warns, so downloading from them could put your files and privacy at risk.
