Computer Security

  • How to avoid being Hacked or being a source of spam or other Malware sent to others

    We each must take responsibility for our own computer, tablet, or iPad security

    Use websites you trust

    • •Your bank is usually uses secure connections
    • •Sites such as Amazon use secure connections
    • •Social network sites are really public. Use unique passwords for these sites
    • •Avoid sites reached through ads
    • •Use something like WOT to screen sites https://www.mywot.com

    Don’t Respond to Unsolicited Phone Calls

    • •CRA never contacts you by phone
    • •Calls offering to fix your computer are always fraud – usually setting up ransom ware
    • •Never pay anyone with iTunes gift cards
    • •Calls from friends or relatives saying they are stuck in a distant airport and need immediate help are always suspect. Check with the person independently first.

    Keep software up to date

    • •Microsoft, Android and Apple regular update software when possible risks are detected
    • •Windows XP is no longer being supported and should be updated or replaced
    • •Old equipment and operating systems can be hacked.
    • •PROBUS Orangeville site has had 5,261 attempts to login in the last 6 months.
    • Use Additional Malware Protection
    • •Norton anti-virus https://ca.norton.com
    • •Kaspersky http://usa.kaspersky.com/downloads/?bid=hptopmenufreetrials
    • •Mcafee promos.mcafee.com

    Use a Secure Browser

    • •Google Chrome – free, both Mac and PC https://support.google.com/chrome/answer/95346?co=GENIE.Platform%3DDesktop&hl=en
    • •Firefox – free, both Mac and PC https://www.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/new/
    • •Safari – originally Mac only, now PC http://www.apple.com/ca/safari/
    • •Opera – also free – most popular browser outside North America – provides ad blocker http://www.opera.com
    • •NOT Internet Explorer – outdated and very buggy – no longer supported – use Microsoft Edge
    • •NOT Netscape 9.0 (recommends switch to Firefox)

    Activate Firewalls

    • •On Windows 10
    • •Select the Start button, then select Windows System > Control Panel.
    • •Select System and Security > Windows Firewall > Turn Windows Firewall on or off > pick the networks you want to change settings for > OK.
    • •On MacOS
    • •Select Systems Preferences
    • •Select Security and Privacy > Turn Firewall on or off
  • •Select Security and Privacy > Turn Firewall on or off

Protect your device

  • •Use a password to open or turn on your device
  • •Consider two step identification
  • •Use biometric identification if available
  • •With some sites you must answer security
  • questions or confirm on another device

Back up regularly

  • •On your computer
  • •On an external drive
  • •On a cloud service
  • •Restorable thumb or flash drive

Password Security

  • •Always use passwords
  • •Don’t use a password on more than one site
  • •Use 8 or more character passwords with a capital, number, and symbol
  • •On a Mac use iCloud Keychain
  • •On Windows use Windows Defender
  • •Use a password manager such as 1Password ($3 a month) to keep track of passwords in an encrypted file
  • •Also Available – Last Pass https://www.lastpass.com , Dashlane 4, https://www.dashlane.com

To Deal with Spam, use Spam Catchers on Your Mail Program

• Spam Sieve on Macintosh –
https://c-command.com/spamsieve/
• Spam Fighter on Windows Systems –
http://www.spamfighter.com/us/landingpage.asp

Other steps to take

  • •Consider encrypting your critical files or using a Firewall to encrypt all files
  • •Tape over your front facing camera or use a software device such as Oversight (Mac) or ispyconnect (PC) or use clip over it

 

“Everyone is their own god” – (Guardian Of Data) – unknown or anonymous, I forget which