One of the most creative ways to learn more about PC security threats is to write software. An unusual approach for sure, learning how to program will teach you the in’s and out’s of hardware-to-software and software-to-hardware communication — and it will help you become more aware of what’s going on with you own PC as well.

As an example, programming will teach you about input and output, and how these two basic activities create the virtual environment that you’re using right now. One of the things that people fail to understand about security threats is that the computer is a two-way communication tool. It has channels that send and receive information like doors that open both ways. On an unprotected system, these doors are security holes. Through learning a little about software development, you can find out where these security holes exist, what it takes to access them, and how to recognize when they’re being opened.

You can also learn how languages communicate with your computer through programming as well. There are hundreds of different programming languages available but you don’t need to learn all of them to understand “computer talk.” A simple language like BASIC for example can be sufficient enough to introduce a knowledgeable relationship between you and your computer.

The end result of course is a stronger awareness of how your computer works and why it works the way that it does. In the event that you notice something strange, your programming knowledge can help you differentiate a virus (something that requires extensive attention) from a simple GPF (something that may require you to delete a goofy-looking font).