Cyber Awareness | Español |
Why do you need to be aware?
How do you protect yourself from malicious programs?
What are computer viruses and how can you protect yourself from them?
What is spyware and how can you protect yourself?
What is spam and how can you stop it?
Is there protection against objectionable content?
Keeping up to date.
Why do you need to be aware?
Whether it is web browsing, chatting, e-commerce, sending and receiving e-mail and instant messages—every type of Internet activity carries a threat of some kind because of a host of malicious programs capable of breaking into vulnerable personal computers and retrieving private information.
 |
|
How do you protect yourself from malicious programs?
There are protections every Internet user needs in order to guard against invasive, malicious programs, such as viruses and spyware. These programs and the protections against them are discussed here:
What are computer viruses and how can you protect yourself from them? A virus is a dangerous program that secretly installs itself on a computer and can potentially destroy all the files on a hard drive. A virus can come from a variety of seemingly innocent sources, spreading when its host is taken to an uninfected computer, for instance by a user sending the virus over a network—intentionally or unintentionally—through the Internet or by carrying it on a removable medium, such as a floppy disk, CD or USB drive.
To prevent virus attacks, equip your computer with an anti-virus program. An anti-virus is a program that runs in the background and scans the computer’s memory, files and diskettes that are accessed and searches for and removes viruses. It usually even helps repair the damaged files left behind. Read more...
What is spyware and how can you protect yourself? Spyware is a broad category of malicious software intended to take partial control of a computer's operation without the user's informed consent. Most spyware is downloaded from the Internet without the user knowing. While the term suggests software that surreptitiously monitors the user as a spy would, it has come to refer more broadly to software that subverts the computer's operation for the benefit of a third party. Read more...
What is spam and how can you stop it? Spam is a disruptive, usually commercial message posted on a computer network or sent as an e-mail. Spam filters, also called "spam blockers," are built into e-mail programs such as Outlook, Outlook Express, Thunder Bird and Eudora to delete incoming spam or divert it to a “junk” mailbox. Ask your Internet service provider if it uses spam filters on its mail server. Most do. Spam filtering can be configured to trap messages based on a variety of criteria, including a sender's e-mail address, specific words in the subject or message, or by the type of attachment. Users are also expected to participate in enhancing spam filters by reporting spam online. Most common free e-mail sites, like Hotmail, Gmail, and Yahoo!, provide a conveniently located "spam" button in their user interface. Make it a habit to use this feature in order to help the online community combat spam.
 |
|
Is there protection against objectionable content? Web filters are a class of software designed to block the delivery of objectionable material over the Internet. Web filter software determines what content is allowed on a particular machine or network. The intention is to prevent the users of a computer or network from viewing material the computer's owner or other authorities—such as parents—deem inappropriate. Such software is often applied in these cases:
Keeping up to date: Most operating systems and web browsers come equipped with security features such as anti-spyware and pop-up blockers. Hackers, on the other hand, are busy finding ways around these safeguards. All security programs, including the built-in security features of an operating system like Microsoft Windows, need to be regularly updated. Windows periodically releases security updates for known issues, often called vulnerabilities. It also provides means of managing the time and mode of these updates. The same is true with most anti-virus and anti-spyware software. Always keep these security software updated against the latest variety of malicious software.
Please find a handy checklist on computer security here...