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Are you safe on the Web?Jul 12, 2011 (The News Herald - McClatchy-Tribune Information Services via COMTEX) -- MORGANTON, NC -- Hackers recently took down Sony's PlayStation network and forced a security breach at Citigroup. These incidents aren't alone. The Identity Theft Resource Center reports that as of last month there have been 216 security breaches this year. But computer and Internet users shouldn't be turned off about using the web to purchase or manage their finances, local computer experts said. They say you can take reasonable steps to keep yourself and your personal information safe. "Don't be paranoid," said Ronnie Harmon, president of Burke Onsite Computer Solutions, "but be suspicious." "There is no program or device in existence that is going to protect a computer from anything and everything all the time," Harmon said. "The best way to protect yourself and your computer is to use plain common sense and be mindful of what you're doing." He advises people to think reasonably about the risks involved. It is unlikely that hackers would target individuals, Harmon said. In the last 10 years, he's only seen one company in Burke County get hacked. However, with the increasing popularity of applications on social networking sites such as flash games, hackers have a new avenue for spreading viruses. Richard Jones, owner of Discerner Computers, said web users should make sure they have an up-to-date firewall, operating system and web browser. Most operating systems come with an embedded firewall, but sometimes programs disable the firewall without the user's knowledge, Harmon said, so users should periodically check the firewall settings. Third-party firewall applications also are available commercially, Jones and Harmon pointed out, and some could provide additional protection. Jones said that if your computer's operating system is five or more years older, it's probably more likely to succumb to hackers' tricks, because of the number of vulnerabilities exposed over years. But keeping current with updates will help. Harmon said installing an antivirus program is useful, too, but no existing program will completely protect someone from all computer viruses or malicious software. The problem is that the people writing antivirus definitions can't keep up with the people writing viruses, he said. This is a case where less is more, Harmon added. He said a computer only needs one antivirus program, not two. When using a wireless connection, make sure the wireless device is using WPA (Wi-Fi Protected Access) security, Harmon said. WEP (Wired Equivalent Privacy) security has been compromised and is not recommended. Perhaps the simplest thing to do is to turn off your computer when you won't be using it for an extended amount of time, Harmon said. Most users have a broadband connection, which stays connected even if you're not actively using the Internet. When you're online, there are a few simple things you can do, too. Jones said you should make sure the status bar of the web browser is visible. Watch that the status and address bars match to ensure you're going to the correct website. When you're in a secured area, check the web address for "https," Jones said. That additional "s" indicates the hypertext transfer protocol (http) is secured with an SSL certificate. Harmon said securing a site isn't free, and some sites don't invest in the running on secure servers. Make sure you always sign out when using online banking or secure sites that require a user name and password, Harmon said. You should change passwords periodically, too. And avoid doing personal banking or sensitive data transfers at public wireless access points. As for email and Internet shopping, Harmon said users should only open emails from trusted senders and use shopping sites that you know are secure. One easy way to tell is by looking for a locked padlock in the right hand corner of the address bar, Harmon said. Users shouldn't buy from pop-up ads or use email links to get to a shopping site, Harmon said. He recommends entering the shopping site manually into the browser. Phishing is a common hacker tactic via email that tricks users into giving personal information to a non-trustworthy source, he explained. It usually involves scare tactics lead users to a fake Internet site that looks like a trusted popular site. What about downloading music? Harmon said his business does not recommend peer to peer-to-peer file sharing because 75 percent of files contain viruses. Aaron Goossens, a Burke Onsite shop technician, said the most common problems he sees are Facebook gaming issues, along with viruses from large websites like Yahoo or MSN. Be sure to check the privacy policy on any site that asks you for personal information, Harmon said. Will the site sell your email address? And check your security settings often. Never post anything to a social networking site that "you wouldn't put on a billboard on the road," Harmon said. "It's your reputation online." In particular, that means don't post personal information like your birthdate, Social Security number or, Harmon noted, when you'll be going out of town. Using an Internet filter is a good option; it's easy to set up and it adds a layer of protection, Harmon said. A filter can be used to block types of websites such as gambling or social networks. It is a popular option for schools and offices. Jones said that if you're confused about what programs to use, call a local computer store and ask the employees what antivirus, firewall and security software programs they use. To see more of The News Herald or to subscribe to the newspaper, go to http://www.morganton.com. Copyright (c) 2011, The News Herald, Morganton, N.C. Distributed by McClatchy-Tribune Information Services. For more information about the content services offered by McClatchy-Tribune Information Services (MCT), visit www.mctinfoservices.com. |