How Safe are You Online?
SOCIAL NETWORKS AND SAFETY
Identity theft and the safety of children online are the fastest growing concerns amongst adults who use the internet today. Interestingly, a link between the two is becoming apparent.
A recent poll carried out by the Chief Marketing Officer (CMO) council and the internet security firm AVG disclosed some alarming results.
- 21% of Social network users (Facebook, MySpace, Bebo etc.) accept friend requests from people they do not know.
- More than 50% allow their friends to access their accounts.
- 26% share files across the network.
- 64% never change their passwords.
As a parent my concerns have always been aimed at those who pose a physical threat to my children, however we should be aware that some adults target children to gain personal information which could assist in identity theft, how many of use our kid's name as a password?
WORMS, VIRUSES AND TROJAN HORSES
A computer virus attaches itself to a program or file allowing it to spread from one computer to another, leaving infections as it travels. Almost all viruses are attached to an executable file, meaning it can't infect your computer unless you run or open the malicious program. People continue the spread of a computer virus, mostly unknowingly, by sharing infecting files or sending e-mails with viruses as attachments in the e-mail.
A worm is a sub class of virus and is similar by design. Using the file or data transport features of your computer worms spread from computer to computer. Most users have their broadband connections active even when they are not online, this usage pattern has allowed worms to proliferate across the web.
A Trojan Horse is full of as much trickery as the mythological disguise it was named after. The Trojan at first glance will appear to be useful software but will actually do damage once installed or run on your computer. Those on the receiving end of a Trojan are usually tricked into opening them because they appear to be receiving legitimate software or files from a legitimate source. When a Trojan is activated on your computer, the results can vary. Some are designed to be more annoying than malicious (like changing your desktop, adding silly active desktop icons) or they can cause serious damage by deleting files and destroying information on your system. Trojans are also known to open a 'backdoor' on your computer that gives malicious users access to your system, possibly allowing confidential or personal information to be compromised.
Not every threat is designed to wipe your hard disk. Many viruses just sit there quietly waiting to capture those credit card details.
THE GOOD NEWS
Of course, it's not all doom and gloom. Social networks are an incredibly popular phenomenon enjoyed by over 600 million people worldwide, and it's not difficult to make life hard for those who want to spoil the fun.
Invest in some quality Internet Protection software.
Connect4Free use avast! Internet Security as it seems to have little or no impact on the speed of the PC it is running on.
Change your password
Change your password monthly, do not use something easy to guess (like a child's name). Try changing 'o' for '0', 'l' for '1' or 's' for '5' for added security.
Use your common sense
General vigilance is your best weapon. Risks are out there, so only trust people and sites you know.
Monitor your kids' internet use
Keep your computer somewhere where you can see what your kids are doing. Make sure you have Parental Control software and learn more about the risks to kids (try ceop.gov.uk).
Use spam controls
Make sure you have spam controls on your email. Avast! provides this.
Use a firewall
A firewall, like its namesake, provides a hard-to-penetrate safety barrier for your PC, reducing the ability of Trojans and malicious users to gain unauthorised access to your data.
Be suspicious of scams
Many scams circulate over the internet and are often a way of getting you to hand over your personal details and take your money. Don't take messages at face value - remember that reputable organisations will never ask for personal information via email.
Don't download files or emails
Be suspicious of all emails or downloads that people send you unless you know where they are from and they look genuine.
Keep your computer in good shape
Ensure your software is up to date, back up your data and upgrade your computer periodically.
Block Spyware
Spyware (also known as Adware or Malware) can infect your system monitoring what you do. You should install and use an anti-Spyware programme to clean this up regularly.
Don't give out your personal information
'Phishing' is a new internet phenomenon where a site or service pretends to be an established legitimate business in order to con people into giving away their private information. Ask yourself "would I give out this information to a stranger on the street?". Use the latest version of your favoured web browser, which may help alert you to some of these forged sites.
Connect4Free want you to enjoy using their free dial up internet service, and by following the above guidelines we can all make the internet that little bit safer.
Last Updated: 30th October 2009