How to protect yourself on the Internet

If you are Internet savvy this list is nothing new, but if your online security could use an upgrade, check out the following list of Internet security precautions.

You have very real concerns about protecting yourself from identity theft, about getting the junk and viruses off of your computer.  They seem to come climbing back on as soon as you clean them off. Your friends tell you they got a virus in an email from you. It seems that your computer is doing things you didn't tell it to.  Since the Internet is so useful and its benefits are becoming a common  part of our daily lives wouldn't it be great to be better protected?


1. Understand 4 things;  

• The Internet is "hostile territory" it is not "owned" by anyone, it is not "regulated" by anyone.  The Internet is not your friend, it is a tool, like a hammer.  It can break a window or porcelain vase as easily as it can drive a nail and build a garden shed.  The Internet is constantly used by people who mean well and by those who are malicious.  Yes there are people out there with nothing better to do than try to wreck your computer.  It doesn't have to make sense, it doesn't have to be personal.  To them you are just another machine on the Internet to take advantage of.
• Owning a computer is like joining a club.  You have an initial fee to join the club, you need to spend time at meetings and you need to pay membership dues.  The initial fee is of course the purchase price.  The meetings (which only APPEAR to be optional) are the time you spend maintaining your computer, and the membership dues are the dollars you sink into repairs, upgrades and other expenses just to stay afloat.  Why should you have to spend time and energy maintaining your computer?  Because your computer is not a toaster. A toaster is simple, it does one thing well.  You put in bread, push the lever and remove toast. Your computer however is one of the most complicated machines on the planet. (It's a clock, calculator, calendar, notebook, radio, tv, post office, printing press, publishing company, and hundreds of other machines.
• What you knew last year is out of date. Take the time to learn, and to be informed.  What was safe 5 years ago may not be safe now.  Be willing to learn a little, inform yourself and you will be much better equipped to protect yourself
• Nobody owes you anything.  While the Internet is full of opportunities, if something sounds too good to be true it probably is.  Remember that the internet is full of strangers.  Some would probably make great neighbours, others... not so much.

2. Act wisely
Avoid the seedy end of the Internet.  Websites related to anything unethical typically  lead to more trouble.

• Reduce your exposure to 3rd party websites by blocking ads and mal-ware sites
• Avoid scams.  If it sounds too good to be true, it probably is.  Repeat after me;  "I did NOT win a prize for a contest I don't remember entering."  "I will NOT be rewarded for passing on a message."
• Don't give out personal information.  The currency of the Internet is information. It has value. Be aware of what information you "give away".
• Use unique strong memorable passwords You do have a password strategy right?  You can safely check password strength using Microsoft's Password Strength Checker; 

• OK, one more time because getting this point is totally worth your time.... I said "Unique".  If you use "password123456" as your password on a gambling website where you gave your email address as a username, and if you use the same password for your email account, you just gave total strangers your login and password for your email account.... The same email account where most sites will send a confirmation email if anyone asks to reset your password.
• Be cautious with the files you download.  Scan every file for viruses before you open it / run it.
• Be cautious with the software you install don't let others install software.  
• Unless dealing with a reputable company, use a payment processor you trust like Google checkout, or PayPal.  This way you don't have to provide your credit card or other personal information.
• The Internet is a 2 way medium, not a "media delivery platform".  Be civil and remember the people are real.  Millions of good people and hundreds of career criminals.  Just like when you shop at the shopping mall.  Keep your wits about you.  Be careful of when online becomes "In real life" IRL.

3. Defend yourself

• For your home Internet connection, buy a router that can do NAT (Network Address Translation). 
• Use a real-time virus scanner that is automatically updated.
• Use a real-time malware scanner.
• Ensure your computer's operating system is patched / automatically updated.
• Use browsers and other software that put your security first.  Firefox or Chrome instead of  IE.
• Run regular virus scans (weekly / monthly) because something will get through and this will clean it up.
• Remove tracking cookies and other traces that identify you online. Using CCLeaner or other software.

If you've got suggestions for staying safe on the Internet, leave them in the comments.  Hey we're all in this together right?

Cheers,

Greg