The internet can be a dangerous place. Shopping, banking, accessing medical records, and talking to friends are all things that have become so routine that sometimes we don't think about the security risks. Taking an internet safety course has helped me become aware of some things I have been somewhat lax on.
When creating a password, it should be long and complex. Password123 just won't cut it. It should have a mix of capital and lowercase letters, numbers, and symbols. Your passwords also should not be the same on different websites. A password generator such as this one can help keep them difficult for someone to guess. The problem with a good password is that it can be difficult to remember. Using a password manager can help! 1Password, LastPass, and Google Chrome Password Manager are a few things that can help you manage your passwords.
Inside web browsers, there are built-in security features. Keeping browsers up to date ensures that security features are working optimally. It's not all on the browser, however. When going to a website, make sure it is spelled correctly, and if it is a secure website, make sure it has a lock symbol by the web address.
While checking emails, you find out that you have won a lottery! It's so unexpected because you don't even remember entering! All you have to do is click a link and enter your banking details, and you can claim a large amount of money. This is a phishing scam. Scammers take that banking information you entered and now have access to your bank account. To protect against this, do not click links from unknown senders and absolutely do not give anyone banking details.
Spam emails are advertisements that you don't want. Most email providers have spam filters, so they don't clutter up your inbox.
Malware is software that is malicious in intent. It can be viruses, pop-ups, or other software that can steal, delete, or corrupt data on your computer. Using anti-malware and antivirus software can reduce your chances of getting malware. A popular antivirus program is Norton. This program can block viruses and malware from corrupting your computer.
Another way to protect yourself is to avoid clicking on links that come in pop-up windows or anything that may seem suspicious.
Shopping online can be so much fun, but sometimes it can be dangerous. However, there are some ways to stay safe when making your purchases. Try to shop from home whenever possible. If you are using a public wi-fi, someone may be able to see your banking information. Make sure the site you are shopping on is secure by looking for a lock symbol. Using a payment service like PayPal, Google Wallet, Apple Pay, or Venmo can also help keep your information secure.
Browser tracking may sound scary, but it isn't necessarily dangerous. By tracking activity, browsers can save a bit of data to help make loading pages faster, save viewing history to suggest a show you may love on Netflix, keep a record of purchases to suggest an item for you on Amazon, or Google may track what you search to suggest another search. If you don't want this tracking, you can disable cookie tracking on a website if they have that option, or you can use a private browsing mode. This video shows what cookies are and what they do.
Social media is something that has made it easy and fast to keep in touch with friends and family. Sometimes, though, things are shared with people you don't know. In your social media privacy settings, choose who to share what information with. There are a lot of settings, so make sure to only choose what you're comfortable with. Better yet, don't share anything you want to keep secret on social media at all.
If you suspect you have a computer virus, the first thing you want to do is make sure you have antivirus software. If you do, great! If you don't, the absolute first step is to get one. Norton is a great one. Once the antivirus is in place, run a full system scan. Look at anything that comes up in the scan and take appropriate action. If the antivirus program is unable to remove it, you may have to reinstall your entire operating system. Be sure to always keep regular backups of your computer in case this ever happens.
Plug-ins are add-ons to a browser that can help view or do different things. It's important to keep them updated so they have updated security. Some internet browsers automatically keep plug-ins updated, but if you get a pop-up that tells you an update is needed, the best thing to do is Google the plug-in and search for the update yourself.
Using phone verification helps to keep your identity safe. When you provide a phone number to a website, they can send you a code to make sure it's you trying to sign in. If you are uncomfortable giving out your phone number, there are options online to get temporary phone numbers.
WI-FI SECURITY
When setting up home Wi-Fi, it's important to follow certain safety measures. Make sure the password is not easily guessed, limit signal strength, disable SSID broadcasting, and enable MAC address filtering.
When on a public Wi-Fi make sure it's an actual public Wi-Fi network and not someone's personal network. Ensure your firewall and antivirus are both turned on and up to date. Do not conduct financial transactions like banking or shopping while on a public Wi-Fi.
DRIVING SAFELY WITH MOBILE DEVICES
While driving, the safest thing to do is to avoid using a mobile device entirely. If there is something you absolutely need to do, pull over if safe, or wait until you can. If you need to take a call, use a hands-free device.
WHAT DID I LEARN
While going through this module, it stood out how lacking I've been with password security. I've gone through and changed a lot of my weakest passwords and started using a password manager to help remember them. Nothing was really confusing or muddy; more eye-opening. I will absolutely be more careful with passwords in the future.
PARTICIPATION
I feel as though I put a lot of time and effort into this module, and will continue to do so in the next module.
TERMINOLOGY
1) Malware - software that is malicious in intent.
2) Phishing - deceiving someone to try to get personal information.
3) Virus - a program that can replicate itself by attaching to other programs
4) Firewall - a program that controls and can block incoming information for security purposes
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