Staying Secure on the Internet
By Aysë Stenabaugh
Staying secure on the internet is a lot more complicated than just having good antivirus. Good virus protection software is a good start but there are many other areas aspects of security that may go overlooked. Having good overall network security, keeping your software and account information up to date, and using a good quality search engine can have an impact as well.
No antivirus is ever going to be 100%. Why? Because the malware and viruses that they are preventing are written by cybercriminals. It takes time to determine and catch a virus and to write code that prevents it from causing damage. That doesn’t mean you should stop using your antivirus, chances are it has stopped many threats without you ever being aware that it was doing its job. Think about it as if you’re the passenger in a car. Most people will put their seatbelt on, not because they are EXPECTING to get into an accident but to help prevent injury or damage if it occurs. Antivirus works in a similar way acting as a preventative against potential damages.
Network security is important because without good security vulnerabilities on your network could leave personal data exposed or easy to access. Last year Apple released an iOS update that started alerting users who were using wireless networks with WPA/WPA2 TKIP security. The message was a bit confusing as it was meant to let users know that they were not meeting Apple’s recommended Wi-Fi security standards, instead many users thought that the notice meant their devices were unsecured which was not the case. Although the execution wasn’t great, Apple’s intentions were good. If you receive this message on an Apple device, have a Wi-Fi network that is “open” (no password required), or want to ensure that your wireless security is up to date, you will either need to access your device’s software to update security if an update is available, older wireless routers may need to be replaced to comply with new security protocols. Unbeknown to many users, like computers, routers often have firmware updates that resolve both performance and security flaws.
Keeping your account information up to date is crucial for several reasons. Your account information includes your name, date of birth, email address, and phone number. The primary reasons are to help users regain access to their accounts. This can be because you forgot a password or because someone else has gained access to your account. Not having accurate information can prevent the services you are using from verifying your identity. Facebook for example is a common target for criminals. We have seen users have their entire accounts taken over by criminals including their business page and even when you provide proof of your identity it may not be enough. So, what else can you do? Users should consider setting up two-step verification. Two-step verification requires users to both their password and a code generated either by an app or sent via text message or email. This prevents unauthorized users from accessing your account without also having access to your devices. If you do find that your account has been compromised and you are able to regain control of it, we highly recommend enabling this feature immediately.
Search engines are often a starting point for surfing the web. Not all search engines are created equal. Some search engines will allow paid advertising for content that so it’s important to choose a good search engine with good quality results. We often find that users end up with garbage on their computer related to attempting to install a device like a printer. To provide an example we searched for HP drivers on both Ask.com and Google search engines. The results from Ask.com first included 3 Advertisements for websites trying to sell a product followed by “results from the ask media group network and finally ended with web results which led me to HP’s website. The first results on Google’s search engine took me directly to HP’s website, no advertisements were listed. We are not saying that Google’s search engine is the best or is perfect, but it is far better with results than the likes of Ask.com which can easily lead users to websites that are of poor quality.
Technology is constantly changing, staying up to date with security and features can be tough. If you find yourself wanting to increase security on your computer or home network or require computer support Jester’s Computers can help! For over 20 years our family-owned, and operated business has been providing repairs and technical support services for home and business users. Find us on the web on Facebook or at www.jesterscomputers.com. We are located at 5135 Fairfield Road in Fairfield Pennsylvania and can be reached by phone call or text at 717-642-6611.
