Don't Be a Victim! Keep Your Cyber-Self Safe

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Don't Be a Victim! Keep Your Cyber-Self Safe

• Thwart Internet hackers that steal and sell your
  personal information.
• Buttress your computer to maximize safety and
  security.
• Harden your wireless network to keep intruders
  out.
• Learn online practices that can help protect you
  and your family.

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What Well Cover Today

• Hardening Your Computer Against Intruders
• Safer Web Surfing
• Safer E-Mailing
• Securing Your Wireless Network
• Keeping Your Kids Safe Online
• Blogging 101 (Safe Practices)
• MySpace 101 (Social Networking Site Safe
  Practices)

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Quiz Setting up your new PC
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1. All new PCs include AntiSpyware and antivirus
software.

• True
• False
• Answer (B) False

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2. Which of the following can help you to verify
whether specific security programs have come
pre-installed on your computer?

• The packing list that comes with your new
  computer.
• Click Start and move your mouse pointer over All
  Programs.
• The programs open when you start your computer.
• All of the above.
• Answer (B) Click Start and move your mouse
  pointer over All Programs.

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3. How can you tell if you have Windows Firewall
running on your Windows XP computer?

1. A firewall runs when antivirus software runs.
2. There is no firewall available for Windows XP.
3. Check the Security Center on your computer.
4. Any of the above.
5. Answer (C) Check the Security Center on your
   computer.

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4. How can you adjust the privacy settings on
Internet Explorer before you go online?

• On the Internet Explorer Tools menu, click
  Internet Options, and then click the Privacy tab.
• Type "privacy" in the Internet Explorer search
  box.
• Click Start, click View, then click Settings.
• Close the curtains over windows that are near
  your computer.
• Answer (A) On the Internet Explorer Tools menu,
  click Internet Options, and then click the
  Privacy tab.

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5. You recently purchased a computer with Windows
XP software, but new security updates have been
released since then. What's the best way to keep
Windows security software up to date?

• Buy a new computer every month.
• Activate the automatic update feature on
  Microsoft Update.
• Click Start, and then click My Computer.
• Contact the computer manufacturer for a Microsoft
  update CD.
• Answer (B) Activate the automatic update
  feature on Microsoft Update.

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Hardening Your Computer Against Intruders

• Take your Password Protection Policy seriously
• Install Anti-Virus Software, and update it daily.
• Install Windows Defender (or other)
  Anti-Spyware that runs in the background.
• Install all Critical Microsoft Updates (and opt
  to update automatically)
• Use a hardware and software firewall
• Secure your wireless network
• Back up your data frequently.

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Use Strong Passwords

• Your passwords are the keys you use to access
  personal information that you've stored on your
  computer and in your online accounts.
• Each character that you add to your password
  increases the protection that it provides many
  times over.
• Your passwords should be 8 or more characters in
  length 14 characters or longer is ideal.
• The fewer types of characters in your password,
  the longer it must be.
• A 15-character password composed only of random
  letters and numbers is about 33,000 times
  stronger than an 8-character password composed of
  characters from the entire keyboard.
• A pass phrase is often easier to remember than a
  simple password, as well as longer and harder to
  guess. (My third child Elrod is 12 years old.)
• Check the strength of your passwords
  http//www.microsoft.com/athome/security/privacy/p
  assword_checker.mspx

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Password strategies to avoid

• Avoid sequences or repeated characters.
  "12345678," "222222," "abcdefg,"
• Avoid using only look-alike substitutions of
  numbers or symbols such as to replace an 'i' with
  a '1' or an 'a' with '_at_' as in "M1cr00ft" or
  "P_at_ssw0rd
• Avoid your login name. Any part of your name,
  birthday, social security number, or similar
  information for your loved ones
• Avoid dictionary words in any language.
• Avoid using one password everywhere.
• Avoid storing password lists on your PC.

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Keep your passwords secret.

• Treat your passwords and pass phrases with as
  much care as the information that they protect.
• Don't reveal critical passwords to others,
  especially your kids.
• Protect any recorded passwords.
• Never provide your password over e-mail or based
  on an e-mail request.
• Change your passwords regularly.
• Do not type passwords on computers that you do
  not control.

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The Windows XP Blank Password" option

• On computers using Windows XP a blank password
  (no password at all) is more secure than a weak
  password.
• An account without a password cannot be
  accessed remotely by means such as a network or
  the Internet.
• Use this option only if
• You only have one computer or you have several
  computers but you do not need to access
  information on one computer from another one
• The computer is physically secure (you trust
  everyone who has physical access to the computer)
• Remember A laptop computer that you take with
  you is probably not physically secure. Use
  strong passwords on every account.

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Questions?
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Safer Web Surfing

• Always run as a Limited User, not an
  Administrator.
• Set your browser security to High.
• Add safe Web sites to your Trusted Sites zone to
  ensure functionality.
• Block pop-up windows in your browser.
• Have updated Anti-Spyware activated.
• Deal only with reputable companies with secure
  sites online.
• Look for https// (s for secure) in the
  address.
• Use your credit card. Many credit-card companies
  have 0 liability policies.
• Provide minimal personal information.
• Monitor your childrens online activities.

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Safer E-Mailing

• Only share your primary e-mail address with
  people you know.
• Set up an e-mail address dedicated solely to Web
  transactions.
• Create an e-mail name that's tough to crack.
• Disguise your e-mail address (rogyATumd.edu)
• Watch out for pre-checked boxes on web sites that
  allow your email to be shared.
• Recognize Phishing and Spear Phishing schemes

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Tips For Dealing With E-mail Attachments

• Reading e-mail messages in plain text provides
  some added protection.
• Don't open any attachment unless you know whom
  it's from and you were expecting it.
• If you receive an e-mail message with an
  attachment from someone you don't know, delete it
  immediately.
• If you need to send an e-mail attachment to
  someone, let them know you'll be sending it so
  they don't think it's a virus.
• Use spam filters to help block unwanted e-mail,
  much of which contains dangerous attachments.

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Questions?
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Securing Your Wireless Network

• Even though your wireless router worked out of
  the box, for security, you should change these
  three settings
• Your wireless network name, known as the SSID.
  This name identifies your network. You should
  choose something unique that none of your
  neighbors will be using.
• Your routers administrative password, which
  controls your wireless network.
• Add Wireless Encryption. Use WPA (Wi-Fi
  Protected Access) Not WEP (Wired Equivalent
  Privacy ).
• Resources for setting up and securing your
  wireless network include
• http//www.microsoft.com/athome/moredone/wirelesss
  etup.mspx
• http//www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/using/networkin
  g/learnmore/bowman_05february10.mspx

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Questions?
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Keeping Your Kids Safe Online

• Educate your children about web safety and
  monitor their online activity.
• Collaborate with your children to create a set of
  family rules for safe computer use and enforce
  them.
• Control the Administrator account and have family
  members (including yourself) operate from Limited
  User accounts.
• Visit the Microsoft child safety website at
  http//www.microsoft.com/athome/security/children/
  default.mspx.

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Computer Safety Tips For Kids

• Never give out your name, phone number, address,
  passwords, social security number, or credit card
  numbers.
• Never agree to meet someone in person that youve
  met online.
• Theft of software and music is illegal, whether
  online or in a store. Severe penalties can apply
  and can be aggressively enforced.
• If something on the computer makes you feel
  uncomfortable, turn it off.

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It's the law

• According to the Children's Online Privacy
  Protection Act (COPPA), Web sites that knowingly
  collect information from children under 13 must
  disclose what information they're gathering and
  how it's being used.
• In many cases the Web site must obtain parental
  consent before collecting, using, or disclosing
  personal information about a child.
• Read privacy statements carefully before deciding
  whether to give your consent.

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Questions?
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Blogging 101

• Blogging short for keeping a "Web log" or
  online personal journal.

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Blogging 101

• Teenagers write more than half of all blogs on
  the Web today.
• Many without their parents knowledge.

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Blogging 101
Surveys of teen bloggers reveal

• Two out of three teen bloggers provide their age.
• Three out of five reveal their location and
  contact information.
• One in five reveal their full name.

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Blogging 101

• Guidelines for bloggers

• Never offer any personal information including
• last name, contact information, home address,
  phone numbers, age, or birth date.
• e-mail addresses, last names of friends or
  relatives
• instant messaging names, your school's name.

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Blogging 101

• Guidelines for bloggers (continued)

• Never post provocative pictures of yourself or
  anyone else.
• Assume that what you publish on the Web is
  permanent. What you post today could affect your
  prospects for a future career, or have other
  far-reaching legal, ethical, or moral
  consequences.
• Only use blogging provider sites with clearly
  stated terms of use.

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Blogging 101

• Guidelines for bloggers (continued)

1. Avoid trying to "outdo" or compete with other
   bloggers.
2. Keep blogs positive.
3. Be diligent of hidden identity clues in your
   posted photos.

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Monitoring Kid Bloggers

• Establish rules for online use with your kids and
  diligently enforce them.
• Screen what your kids plan to post before they
  post it.
• Ask yourself (and instruct your kids to do the
  same) if you are you comfortable showing any of
  the content to a stranger.
• Evaluate the blogging service and find out if it
  offers private, password-protected blogs.
• Save the Web address of your child's blog and
  review it on a regular basis.
• Check out other blogs to find positive examples
  for your kids to emulate.

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Questions?
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Social Networking Sites (MySpace 101)

• Kids (and adults) can now create personal Web
  pages on social networking web sites hosted by
  services like MySpace, MSN Spaces, Friendster,
  Facebook, and others.

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MySpace 101 Social Networking Site Safety

• At sites like MySpace (which are extremely
  popular among teenagers), kids can fill out
  profiles that may include
• Photos
• Videos
• Personal information such as full names,
  locations, and cell phone numbers

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MySpace 101 Social Networking Site Safety

• The information that kids post on their pages
  can make them vulnerable to predators.

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MySpace 101 Social Networking Site Safety
Safe Practices

• Ensure your kids abide by age limits posted on
  the site.
• The recommended age for signing up for social
  networking sites is usually 13 and over.
• Many younger teens are not yet savvy enough for
  this environment.
• Assume that what your kids publish on the Web is
  permanent and may therefore have far-reaching
  consequences.

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MySpace 101 Social Networking Site Safety
Safe Practices

• Educate yourself about the site.
• Insist that your children never meet anyone in
  person that they've communicated with only
  online.
• Encourage them to communicate only with people
  they've actually met in person.
• Ensure your kids don't use full names.

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MySpace 101 Social Networking Site Safety
Safe Practices

• Be diligent about details in posted photographs-
• Among others, license plates, club names, school
  names (on clothing), street names and other
  elements can provide valuable information for
  locating your child.
• Careless photo posting can also assist thieves to
  scope out your home for valuables.

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MySpace 101 Social Networking Site Safety
Safe Practices

• Warn your child about expressing emotions to
  strangers-
• Read your kids online poems, stories, (and
  rants).
• As with photos, look for inadvertent information
  that creates vulnerabilities.
• Online predators look for certain emotional
  mindsets (sometimes expressed in writings) that
  can make your child a target.

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MySpace 101 Social Networking Site Safety
Safe Practices

• Consider using a site that is less public.
• Some allow you to password-protect your childs
  site and provide other access restriction tools.
• Be wary of other identifiable information in your
  child's profile.
• Why parents must mind MySpace - Dateline NBC -
  MSNBC.com

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Resources You Can Use

• Hardening Your Computer Against Intruders
• General Security at home http//www.microsoft.com
  /athome/security/default.mspx
• Passwords http//www.microsoft.com/athome/securit
  y/privacy/password.mspx
• Backup Basics http//www.microsoft.com/athome/sec
  urity/update/backup.mspx
• Safer Web Surfing
• General Spyware http//www.microsoft.com/athome/s
  ecurity/spyware/default.mspx
• Online shopping http//www.moneycentral.msn.com/
  content/savinganddebt/finddealsonline/p36487.asp
• Safer E-Mailing
• Email and Spam http//www.microsoft.com/athome/se
  curity/email/default.mspx
• Phishing Schemes http//www.microsoft.com/athome/
  security/email/phishing.mspx
• Securing Your Wireless Network
• Wireless Security http//www.microsoft.com/window
  sxp/using/networking/learnmore/bowman_05february10
  .mspx
• Wireless Security at Home http//www.microsoft.co
  m/windowsxp/using/networking/expert/bowman_03july2
  8.mspx
• Keeping Your Kids Safe Online
• General Internet Child Safety (bewebaware.com)
  http//www.bewebaware.ca/english/default.aspx
• General Online Child Safety http//www.microsoft.
  com/athome/security/children/default.mspx
• Teenage Online Safety http//www.microsoft.com/a
  thome/security/children/kidtips13-17.mspx
• 10 Tips for Safer Instant Messaging
  http//www.microsoft.com/athome/security/online/im
  safety.mspx
• Kid-Friendly Sites http//www.bewebaware.ca/engl
  ish/KidFriendlySearchEngines.aspxengines ,
  http//www.bewebaware.ca/english/KidFriendlySearch
  Engines.aspxportals,

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Questions?

• Hardening Your Computer Against Intruders
• Safer Web Surfing
• Safer E-Mailing
• Securing Your Wireless Network
• Keeping Your Kids Safe Online
• Blogging 101 (Safe Practices)
• MySpace 101 (Social Networking Site Safe
  Practices)