Stay secure when using the internet

Most people seem scared to use the internet because of the various cybercrimes that are taking place these days. Is it possible to stay away from the internet? The answer is NO. The internet is being used for variety of positive activities that are making our lives easier such as emails, online transactions, research purposes just to mention a few. So the main key answer lies in how we protect ourselves when using it because the truth of the matter is, we can't just stay away from it.

Internet Safety is cumulative. There is NO single prevention measure to completely protect you on the Internet. There are multiple components to staying safe. We shall look at some options available to stay secure when using the internet.

1. Passwords

Writing STRONG passwords for all of your accounts is the first step in securing yourselves when using the internet. But still the question is what is a "strong" password ? A strong password is one that cannot be easily guessed or broken by hackers. To generate this:

i. DO NOT use the same password for every site. Some website administrators are able to see your password once you register with them. So they may try to access some of the sites you use for internet banking, social networking etc. It's important to change all your passwords at least once a year.

ii. Never, ever give out your passwords to anyone.

iii. When writing the password NEVER use any part of your name - first, last, or middle ,your initials , birthdays, phone numbers or addresses, words from the English dictionary, your username or login name.

iv. ALWAYS use any of the following components special characters (*!$+) mixed with both letters and numbers, mixed upper- and lower-case letters, nonsense words that are easy to pronounce but aren't in any dictionary and at least eight or more characters.

2. User names

If one makes sure that a strong password is available then the username is not quite as important. You can use real words for your username, but it is still more secure to avoid using any part of your real name.

3. E-mail and Phishing

How important is security when using emails? One of the most common ways to get a virus is through an e-mail that one opens. Victims of identity theft often send their personal information straight to the criminals.

To stay secure when using emails over the internet it is important to:

i. NEVER open attachments from senders you do not know! Usually these emails always come through one's SPAM. Set up spam filters so that only messages from people you know get into your inbox (this differs with each e-mail service).

ii. Avoid sending personal information (bank account numbers, credit card information, etc.) in any e-mails.

iii. If you use a public computer, do not select the feature that allows you to log on automatically. People who use that computer after you may be able to see and use your screen name to log on. NEVER choose the option of saving your password on any computer, be it private or public.

4. Cookies

Most people feel secure that no one will ever know the sites they have visited by just deleting history from the internet settings on the browser. Very few pay attention to the tracker that still remains on the computer, the COOKIE. What exactly are cookies? Cookies are small bits of data used by web servers to help identify individual web users. In other ways a cookie can help a website "remember" you and show you a customized page the next time you visit it. Hence as a secure measure it is necessary to remove these cookies. How do you get rid of cookies?

i. Go to the "Tools" menu in Internet Explorer. Click on "Internet Options." In the middle of the box that pops up click on "Delete Cookies".

ii. While you are on this screen it is also worthwhile to click on the "Delete Files" button and put a checkmark next to "Delete All Offline Content." This will remove additional temporary internet files that you do not need.

5. Spyware

Spyware is any technology that aids in gathering information about a person without their knowledge. Spyware is programming that is put in someone's computer to secretly gather information about the user and relay it to advertisers or other interested parties. Spyware can get in a computer as a software virus or as the result of installing a new program. Serious spyware programs can lead to identity theft.

Avoid installing spyware by:

i. Never clicking on a pop-up (these often lead to sites that install spyware)

ii. Don't click on pop-ups that tell you that your computer is infected with spyware (this is a common scam to get you to install spyware)

iii. Set your Internet Explorer security setting to medium or higher. To do this click on "Tools" then "Internet Options" then "Security". The slider on the left should be at medium or higher.

6. Firewall

Firewall is a program that serves as a sort of filter between your computer and the internet. If you have a fast connection (cable or DSL) you probably want some sort of firewall. A firewall can prevent hackers from gaining access to your computer and files. A firewall generally provides additional virus protection. The good thing about these firewalls is that these days most of them some free, but you need to be very careful when downloading them from the internet. There is also a firewall included with Windows XP.

Noreen Sarai (Mrs) is a Lecturer – Information Security & Assurance Department (Harare Institute of Technology) BSc (HONS) Computer Science, MSU, Zimbabwe: Msc Computer Science, UZ, Zimbabwe
noreyn@gmail.com