Share it !
One of the largest challenges we are faced with on the Internet is cyber attacks.
Threats to our economy, national security, online communities, and families depend on how effective we are at protecting ourselves from cyber attacks from Internet predators. Here are a few steps that will improve your online security.
First, make sure you have anti-virus software and firewalls configured properly. Make sure they are updated regularly, as well. Everyday new threats are discovered, so keeping you software up-to-date and current makes it easier to protect you and your family, or business from attacks. Most anti-virus and firewall programs have automatic updates available for you to configure.
Another safety precaution technique is to update your operating system and vital program software. These software updates provide the latest protection against malicious attacks. Again, most of these critical software programs have automatic updates available for you to turn on.
Remember to back up your important files. Copy them onto removable discs you can store in a safe place, preferable at another location other than where your computer is at.
Know Who You're Dealing With
In all endeavors, it's also important for you to know what you're getting into, and who you're dealing-especially on the Internet. You cannot judge someone's character or motives by simply looking at a profile picture, MLM blog, or website. Many scammers online impersonate legitimate MLM, affiliate, and home-based businesses when, in fact, they have ulterior motives. Make sure you do some research prior to making any purchases of products or services from individuals or businesses on the Internet.
Finally, protect your passwords-keep them in a secure place. Best practices suggest using longer passwords which include letters and symbols. Every ninety days change your password and avoid using common words. Use different passwords for each of your online accounts.
If you suspect someone is hacking your computer, contact your Internet Service Provider and contact the Federal Bureau of Investigation at the following link: http://www.ic3.gov
When you're shopping, either online, or offline, if someone takes advantage of your through an Internet auction, file a complaint with the Federal Trade Commission.
On social networking sites, it's important to trust your instincts and advise your children to trust theirs, as well. If you or your children feel uncomfortable, or feel threatened by someone online, encourage your children to tell you. Pass the information onto the police and the social networking site.
To learn more about building your business it's important to learn all you can from experts. Visit the following link and you'll be taken to a website with more valuable information from an industry expert George Zapo
Stories of cyber creeps are plenty. Every now and then we come across incidents where questionable people have lured children in to divulging sensitive information to unknown people, of meeting perverts online and getting violated, the list could go on. As a parent, you are surely worried about the acquaintances your children make online. A nameless and faceless cyber world can pose serious threat to those who do not tread on its turf cautiously. If you are complacent, chances are that you will end up in trouble in the cyber world let alone the inexperienced teenagers or your ten year old!
Education is power! Tell your children why it is important to be cautious in the internet. Share with them stories and published guidelines on how to behave in the cyber world. Ask them never to divulge sensitive information like social security numbers, telephone numbers, contact address, etc. to unknown people.
Teach them. Teach them how to behave in the cyber world. Tell them what to do and what not to. Tell them how to talk and what to do in order to avoid unwanted attention. Ask them to follow internet etiquette diligently - this could mean the difference between security and total violation of safety.
Guide them. Sit with them and guide them how to access internet - the messages and language that may lead to questionable situations. Show them the websites that they should stay away from and why. Help them understand the best way to enjoy internet without compromising security and peace of mind.
Prevent them. Often teaching and guidance may not go all the way. In such a situation, use prevention.
o Bar the websites that you think may lead to unwanted situations. Most internet service providers give parental control options. Allow only certain websites and define the websites that you do not want your children to visit. Various anti-virus software also provide the option of blocking websites that may have adult content or are hosted in insecure web locations. Make full use of those features.
o Give them internet time only for a specific period and during specific hours of the day. Do not let them access the internet all the time. Do not share the password for internet connection
o Do not share passwords for areas in your computer that are protected for confidential reasons. Kids do not need to know that. In fact if need be prevent access to all those areas in your computer.
Observe them. Although no child would like their parents sneaking behind their backs, but initially it is a good idea to keep an eye on the websites that your children are regularly visiting. See if there is any website that you think may cause trouble. Discuss with them your concern. Children often understand if they are treated like adults.
Teach your children to enjoy the fruits of technological advances responsibly. As long as you are in a safe and secured environment, you will enjoy your online experience more. Treading on tough, murky areas is neither comfortable nor desirable.
Gregg Hall is an author living on the Emerald Coast of Florida. Now that you know a little more about computer security be sure that you get quality computer accessories by going to http://www.nsearch.com
Allow me to elaborate. Computers on the Internet are almost constantly bombarded with viruses and other malware- so users employ antivirus software to protect themselves. Email inboxes are constantly flooded with pathetically useless spam- so users employ anti-spam programs and techniques to protect themselves. As soon as you think you have things under control you find out your system has a myriad of spyware and adware programs silently running in the background monitoring and reporting on your computer activity. Hence, "if its not one thing, its another."
The more benign spyware and adware simply monitors and tracks your the sites you visit on the web so that companies can determine the web-surfing habits of their users and try to pinpoint their marketing efforts. However, many forms of spyware go beyond simple tracking and actually monitor keystrokes and capture passwords and other functions which cross the line and pose a definite security risk.
How can you protect yourself from these insidious little programs? Ironically, many users unwittingly agree to install these programs. In fact, removing some spyware and adware might render some freeware or shareware programs useless. Below are 5 easy steps you can follow to try to avoid and, if not avoid, at least detect and remove these programs from your computer system: Be Careful Where You Download: Unscrupulous programs often come from unscrupulous sites. If you are looking for a freeware or shareware program for a specific purpose try searching reputable sites like tucows.com or download.com. Read the EULA: What is an EULA you ask? End User License Agreement. It's all of the technical and legal gibberish in that box above the radio buttons that say "No, I do not accept" or "Yes, I have read and accept these terms". Most people consider this a nuisance and click on "yes" without having read a word. The EULA is a legal agreement you are making with the software vendor. Without reading it you may be unwittingly agreeing to install spyware or a variety of other questionable actions that may not be worth it to you. Sometimes the better answer is "No, I do not accept." Read Before You Click: Sometimes when you visit a web site a text box might pop up. Like the EULA, many users simply consider these a nuisance and will just click away to make the box disappear. Users will click "yes" or "ok" without stopping to see that the box said "would you like to install our spyware program?" Ok, admittedly they don't generally come out and say it that directly, but that is all the more reason you should stop to read those messages before you click "ok". Protect Your System: Antivirus software is somewhat misnamed these days. Viruses are but a small part of the malicious code these programs protect you from. Antivirus has expanded to include worms, trojans, vulnerability exploits, jokes and hoaxes and even spyware and adware. If your antivirus product doesn't detect and block spyware you can try a product like AdAware Pro which will protect your system from spyware or adware in real time. Scan Your System: Even with antivirus software, firewalls and other protective measures some spyware or adware may eventually make it through to your system. While a product like AdAware Pro mentioned in step #4 will monitor your system in real time to protect it, AdAware Pro costs money. The makers of AdAware Pro, Lavasoft, also have a version available for free for personal use. AdAware will not monitor in real time, but you can manually scan your system periodically to detect and remove any spyware. Another excellent choice is Spybot Search & Destroy which is also available for free.
If you follow these five steps you can keep your system protected from spyware proactively and detect and remove any that does manage to get into your system. Good luck!
Allow me to elaborate. Computers on the Internet are almost constantly bombarded with viruses and other malware- so users employ antivirus software to protect themselves. Email inboxes are constantly flooded with pathetically useless spam- so users employ anti-spam programs and techniques to protect themselves. As soon as you think you have things under control you find out your system has a myriad of spyware and adware programs silently running in the background monitoring and reporting on your computer activity. Hence, "if its not one thing, its another."
The more benign spyware and adware simply monitors and tracks your the sites you visit on the web so that companies can determine the web-surfing habits of their users and try to pinpoint their marketing efforts. However, many forms of spyware go beyond simple tracking and actually monitor keystrokes and capture passwords and other functions which cross the line and pose a definite security risk.
How can you protect yourself from these insidious little programs? Ironically, many users unwittingly agree to install these programs. In fact, removing some spyware and adware might render some freeware or shareware programs useless. Below are 5 easy steps you can follow to try to avoid and, if not avoid, at least detect and remove these programs from your computer system: Be Careful Where You Download: Unscrupulous programs often come from unscrupulous sites. If you are looking for a freeware or shareware program for a specific purpose try searching reputable sites like tucows.com or download.com. Read the EULA: What is an EULA you ask? End User License Agreement. It's all of the technical and legal gibberish in that box above the radio buttons that say "No, I do not accept" or "Yes, I have read and accept these terms". Most people consider this a nuisance and click on "yes" without having read a word. The EULA is a legal agreement you are making with the software vendor. Without reading it you may be unwittingly agreeing to install spyware or a variety of other questionable actions that may not be worth it to you. Sometimes the better answer is "No, I do not accept." Read Before You Click: Sometimes when you visit a web site a text box might pop up. Like the EULA, many users simply consider these a nuisance and will just click away to make the box disappear. Users will click "yes" or "ok" without stopping to see that the box said "would you like to install our spyware program?" Ok, admittedly they don't generally come out and say it that directly, but that is all the more reason you should stop to read those messages before you click "ok". Protect Your System: Antivirus software is somewhat misnamed these days. Viruses are but a small part of the malicious code these programs protect you from. Antivirus has expanded to include worms, trojans, vulnerability exploits, jokes and hoaxes and even spyware and adware. If your antivirus product doesn't detect and block spyware you can try a product like AdAware Pro which will protect your system from spyware or adware in real time. Scan Your System: Even with antivirus software, firewalls and other protective measures some spyware or adware may eventually make it through to your system. While a product like AdAware Pro mentioned in step #4 will monitor your system in real time to protect it, AdAware Pro costs money. The makers of AdAware Pro, Lavasoft, also have a version available for free for personal use. AdAware will not monitor in real time, but you can manually scan your system periodically to detect and remove any spyware. Another excellent choice is Spybot Search & Destroy which is also available for free.
If you follow these five steps you can keep your system protected from spyware proactively and detect and remove any that does manage to get into your system. Good luck!
Our kids are exposed to more and greater threats online each year. As parents, it is our job to provide an Internet Child Protection Home Plan to effectively guard against this growing problem.
Consider these 3 action steps to get started:
#1. Take Steps to Get Educated on the Latest Internet Child Safety Threats
Depending on the age of your children you should take steps to keep updated on the latest threats and what's being done to prevent them. Fortunately, there are more and more watchdog groups that focus on these trends and you can access their findings online.
Accessing information on different Internet Child Safety Associations is as easy as typing in the phrase "Child Online Protection Association" plus the country or area you live in. Governments are continually working on this growing problem so checking online for this information can provide you with many resources to keep educated on the latest threats.
#2. Establish Internet Child Safety Guidelines at Your Home
Regardless of your children's ages, they need to have guidelines to protect them from harmful information, images and potentially criminal activities online.
Let you children know what is acceptable and what is not acceptable. Also, by keeping computers in a common area of the home, you can carefully monitor their actions. Unfortunately, most children come across these sites without knowing it, so be sure to let them know what to stay away from.
Children must understand the potential dangers of predators on chat lines and to be careful about providing personal information or arranging meetings after school.
Other areas for discussion are cyber-bullying threats and sites with inappropriate images and hate information. You need to let them know to stay clear of those threats.
Establish an open dialog about what your children are working on. You need to know what they are learning and doing online to avoid the potential dangers.
#3. Install Parental Control Filtering Software and Keep it Updated
Using Parental Control Filtering Software will greatly reduce the risk of your child typing in a word that can bring up inappropriate sites which reveal sexually explicit or graphically violence images. They also help you to limit internet usage and monitor their activities.
Keeping updated on Internet Child Safety Practices and taking action to provide the latest Parental Controls within your home can make all the difference in shielding your loved ones from these crimes.
Internet child safety is within your control. Take steps today to ensure your family is secure from ongoing threats with Education, Setting Guidelines and Keeping Up-to-Date on the latest Parental Control Filtering Software.
Learn more about Parental Control Filtering at Child Online Protection Solutions to safeguard your family today.
