Cybercrime Prevention
Cybercrime prevention can be straightforward. Online criminals are trying to
make their money as quickly and easily as possible. The more difficult you make
their job, the more likely they are to leave you alone and move on to an easier
target. The tips below provide basic information on how you can keep your
computer and your identity safe:
1. Keep your computer current with the latest patches and updates.
One of the best ways to keep cyber attackers away from your computer is to
apply patches and other software fixes when they become available. By regularly
updating your computer, you block attackers from being able to take advantage of
software flaws (vulnerabilities) that they could otherwise use to break into
your system.
While keeping your computer up to date will not protect you from all attacks,
it makes it much more difficult for hackers to gain access to your system,
blocks many basic and automated attacks completely, and might be enough to
discourage a less-determined attacker to look for a more vulnerable computer
elsewhere.
Most companies release software that can be configured to download and apply
updates automatically so that you do not have to remember to check for the
latest software. Taking advantage of "auto-update" features in your software is
a great start toward keeping yourself safe online.
2. Make sure that your computer is configured securely.
Keep in mind that a newly purchased computer may not have the right level of
security for you. When you are installing your computer at home, pay attention
not just to making your new system function, but also to making it work
securely.
Configuring popular Internet applications such as your Web browser and email
software is one of the most important areas to focus on. For example, settings
in your Web browser will determine what happens when you visit websites on the
Internet. The strongest security settings will give you the most control over
what happens online but may also frustrate you with many questions ("This may
not be safe, are you sure you want do this?") or the inability to do what you
want to do.
Choosing the right level of security and privacy depends on the individual
using the computer. Oftentimes security and privacy settings can be properly
configured without any sort of special expertise by simply using the "Help"
feature of your software or reading the vendor's website. If you are
uncomfortable configuring your computer
yourself, consult someone you know and trust for assistance or contact the
vendor directly.
3. Choose strong passwords and keep them safe.
Passwords are a fact of life on the Internet today. We use them for
everything from ordering flowers and banking online to logging into our
favourite airline website to see how many miles we have accumulated. The
following tips can help make your online experiences secure:
* Select a password that cannot be easily guessed to keep your passwords
secure and away from the wrong hands. Strong passwords have eight characters or
more and use a combination of letters, numbers, and symbols (e.g., # $ % ! ?).
* Avoid using any of the following as your password: your login name,
anything based on personal information such as your last name, and words that
can be found in the dictionary. Try to select especially strong, unique
passwords for protecting activities like online banking.
* Keep your passwords in a safe place and try not to use the same password
for every service you use online.
* Change passwords on a regular basis, at least every 90 days. This can limit
the damage caused by someone who has already gained access to your account. If
you notice something suspicious with one of your online accounts, one of the
first steps you can take is to change your password.
4. Protect your computer with security software.
Several types of security software are necessary for basic online security.
Security software essentials include firewall and antivirus programs. A firewall
is usually your computer's first line of defense--it controls who and what can
communicate with your computer online. You could think of a firewall as a sort
of "traffic cop" that watches all the data attempting to flow in and out of your
computer on the Internet, allowing communications that it knows are safe and
blocking "bad" traffic, such as attacks, from ever reaching your computer. The
next line of defense is your antivirus software, which monitors all online
activities and protects your computer from viruses, worms, Trojan horses, and
other types of malicious programs. More recent versions of antivirus programs,
such as Norton AntiVirus, also protect from spyware and potentially unwanted
programs such as adware. Having security software that gives you control over
software you may not want and protects you from online threats is essential to
staying safe on the Internet. Your antivirus and antispyware software should be
configured to update itself, and it should do so every time you connect to the
Internet.
Integrated security suites such as Norton 360 and Norton Internet Security
combine firewall, antivirus, and antispyware features with others like antispam
and parental controls. Many people find using a security suite an attractive
alternative to installing and configuring several different types of security
software as well as keeping them all up to date.
5. Shield your personal information.
Exercise caution when sharing personal information such as your name, home
address, phone number, and email address online. To take advantage of many
online services, you will inevitably have to provide personal information in
order to handle billing and shipping of purchased goods. Since not divulging any
personal information is rarely possible, the following list contains some advice
for how to share personal information safely online:
* Keep an eye out for phony email messages. Messages may be fraudulent if
they contain misspellings, poor grammar, odd phrasings, URLs with strange
extensions or that consist entirely of numbers, and anything else out of the
ordinary. Additionally, phishingmessages will often tell you that you have to
act quickly to keep your account open, update your security, or urge you to
provide information immediately or else something bad will happen. Don't take
the bait.
* Don't respond to email messages that ask for personal information.
Legitimate companies will not use email messages to ask for your personal
information. When in doubt, contact the company by phone or by typing in the
company Web address into your browser. Don't click on the links in these
messages as they make take you to a fraudulent, malicious websites.
* Steer clear of fraudulent websites used to steal personal information. When
visiting a website, type the URL directly into the Web browser rather than
follow a link within an email or instant message. Fraudsters often forge these
links to make them look convincing. A shopping, banking, or any other website
that requires your sensitive information should begin with "https:" (i.e.
https://www.yourbank.com, not http://www.yourbank.com)/. The "s" stands for
secure and should appear when you are in an area requesting you to login or
provide other sensitive data. Another sign that you have a secure connection is
the small lock icon in the bottom of your Web browser (usually the right-hand
corner).
* Pay attention to privacy policies on websites and in software. It is
important to understand how an organization might collect and use your personal
information before you share it with them.
* Guard your email address. Spammers and phishers sometimes send millions of
messages to email addresses that may or may not exist in hopes of finding a
potential victim. Responding to these messages ensures you will be added to
their lists for more of the same messages in the future. Also be careful when
posting your email address in newsgroups, blogs, or online communities.
6. Online offers that look too good to be true usually are.
The old saying "there's no such thing as a free lunch" still rings true
today. Supposedly "free" software such as screensavers or smileys, secret
investment tricks sure to make you untold fortunes, and contests that you've
surprisingly won without entering are the enticing hooks used by companies to
grab your attention.
While you may not directly pay for the software or service with money, the
free software or service you asked for may have been bundled with advertising
software ("adware") that tracks your behaviour and displays unwanted advertisements.
You may have to divulge personal information or purchase something else in order to claim
your supposed contest winnings. If an offer looks so good it's hard to believe,
ask for someone else's opinion, read the fine print, or even better, simply
ignore it.
7. Review bank and credit card statements regularly.
The impact of identity theft and online crimes can be greatly reduced if you
can catch it shortly after your data is stolen or when the first use of your
information is attempted. One of the easiest ways to get the tip-off that
something has gone wrong is by reviewing the monthly statements provided by your
bank and credit card companies for anything out of the ordinary.
Additionally, many banks and services use fraud prevention systems that call
out unusual purchasing behaviour (e.g., if you live in Texas and all of a sudden
start buying refrigerators in Budapest). In order to confirm these out of the
ordinary purchases, they might call you and ask you to confirm them. Don't take
these calls lightly--this is your hint that something bad may have happened and
you should take action.