10 very crucial steps to avoid security breaches
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introduced new elements to cyber crime. Elements that make cyber crime
one of the most dangerous issues facing modern society. Children and
innocent netizens are now being subject to unprecedented barrage of
innovative cyber attacks.
For example, rising number of 'phishing' attacks have emerged as a
new, big threat of cyber security. According to Anti-Phishing Working
Group statistics, approximately 5 per cent of users fall prey to
Phishing scams. Spam, viruses, worms and other malicious code account
for global losses of several billion dollars
These simple 10 steps could cover people against more than 80 per cent
of all causes of information security breaches:
1. Install the latest anti-virus software on your computer and never
ever turn it (anti-virus) off, instal a personal firewall and spyware
checker . To find them just search in igniteds using the keywords anti-
virus and anti-spyware.
2. Never download or open attachments, whose source you are not
certain about. Even if the source is trusted, see if the content is
relevant, if not, don't open attachment. Create another E-mail ID
which you use exclusively for subscription to sites. That will prevent
spam from coming to your main ID. Some accounts like Yahoo! allow you
to create topic-specific E-mail IDs that you can delink.
3. Avoid checking mail or using credit card details online in cyber
cafes. It's next to impossible to be sure that it's safe. Even reputed
cafes such as those in international airports and 5-star hotels have
known to be key-logged. Matter of fact, open an additional debit card
with a limit if you do want to transact online. In a worst case
scenario your damage is limited.
4. Do not give away your residence or cell number. Be especially
careful when you are filling in contest forms, coupons, free gift
vouchers. More often than not, these are gimmicks to obtain your
personal details. Don't believe it when they say the data will not be
given to others - it most certainly will be. Don't print these numbers
on your visiting card.
5. Get into the habit of destroying documentation regarding credit
cards, such as receipts, bills, invoices or any documents that contain
personal details.
6. If you are using broadband or working from home, ensure that your
PC is hardened professionally. You can do this yourself if you follow
the next step.
7. Information is a reality of modern life. Just like health or
transport or communication is. Point is, you need to know something
about it, even if it's just some basics. Read about information
security breaches by subscribing to some newsletters. In case of many
breaches, the only defence is knowledge. For instance, no technology
could have prevented the phishing attack (wherein victims got mails
seemingly from legitimate banks asking them to confirm their passwords
and IDs)
8. Use two different passwords. One for mail, work and other important
access and the other for routine proposes such as subscribing to
sites. But remember to switch between them when you start doing
transactions after mere browsing.
9. Create a difficult to guess password by taking the first alphabet
from each word of a phrase.
For instance a password like 1at*eomc is constructed using a phrase "I
am the star employee of my company". For a complete demytifying of the
passwords making technique look at the link below.
Link : http://igniteds.net/phpBB/viewtopic.php?t=3109
10. Educate your children about the dangers of cyber crime. Children
with their unbound curiosity and unmonitored access are the single
most common victims of cyber crime apart from the enterprises. Ensure
that the home PC is kept in a common place so that you can monitor
what is going on.
If you follow the above steps you can avoid the most common security
breaches which is very dangerous for you personal life.
Any comments are most welcome