Networks and Computers

There are several things you can do to ensure your household computers are effectively protected from threats. Hacking is a very real issue and often a relaxed approach can lead to vulnerability. Check the links and tips below.

• Install security software and update it regularly. Install and activate anti-virus, anti-spyware software and install a firewall.

• Turn on automatic updates so all your software receives the latest fixes. New viruses and spyware are created every day, so it is important that your software is up-to-date and can detect new threats.

• Set strong passwords, particularly for important online accounts and change them regularly -consider making a diary entry to remind yourself.

• Be suspicious of emails from people you don't know, particularly if they promise you money, good health or a solution to all your problems. The same applies for websites. Remember, anything that looks too good to be true usually is.

• Stop and think before you click on links or attachments in emails. Spam emails often look legitimate but they can be used to carry viruses and other malicious software.

• Stop and think before you share any personal or financial information-about you, your friends or family. Don't disclose identity information (drivers licence, Medicare No, birth date, address) through email or online unless you have initiated the contact and you know the other person involved.

• Before disposing of your computer, remove all traces of your personal data. Special wiping software can be downloaded or purchased to help you clean your hard drive.

• Keep yourself informed about the latest online safety and security risks. Subscribe to email notification services that keep you informed about the latest online safety and security risks and solutions.

Viruses

A virus is a piece of malicious computer code transmitted by email, through infected downloads including new software, images, music files, infected computer devices such as a USB or when surfing the web.

Viruses are often disguised as something else so that they can be transferred from one computer to another without the users knowing. Anti-virus software should be installed on computers and kept up to date to scan for and remove computer viruses.

What happens if my computer is infected?

The most common symptoms that a computer has been infected by a virus include:

• files and data have been deleted or file names are changed

• the computer takes longer to load programs or applications or web pages

• the computer takes longer to boot, continually restarts or does not start at all

• items and images on the screen are distorted and unusual images and text appear

• the hard disk may be inaccessible or appear to be working harder than normal

• excessive network activity (lights blinking excessively on modem)

• the web browser opens on a different homepage

• frequent system or program crashes.

This is not an exhaustive list and these symptoms may occur for reasons other than a virus infection. Seek advice from a computer professional if you suspect your computer may have become infected by a virus.

Is there any free Anti-Virus?

Yes, there are several companies that offer free anti-virus protection.

• AVG

• Microsoft

Firewalls

A firewall acts like a security guard at the door of your house; it checks who and what enters or leaves.

A firewall is a piece of software or hardware that sits between your computer and the outside world and acts as the gatekeeper for all incoming and outgoing traffic.

A correctly configured firewall will prompt you when it detects an unauthorised computer or program trying to access your computer or a software program is installed on your computer that tries to make an unauthorised outside connection.

If you are a home user, using a firewall and having it permanently turned on is the most effective and important first step you can take to help secure your computer. Always use a firewall, as well as anti-virus. The more lines of defence you have in place, the harder it is for hackers to get in.

At St Charbel's College we use an industry leading enterprise firewall solution for the campus. This is an appliance which physically blocks or allows access according to the School's security policy.

What type of Firewall should I use at home?

Many computers and other hardware such as routers and modems have built-in firewall capabilities. many computers and other hardware such as routers and modems have built-in firewall capabilities.

Hardware based routers are recommended as they can easily cover multiple computers, tablets, phones and other devices without needing to set up additional software configuration on each device. Therefore these firewalls can be effective with little or no configuration.

For people with broadband connections, the dual function modem-router provides connectivity to the internet and the ability to restrict inbound and outbound connections in the same way as a firewall.

If you have doubts about hardware firewalls on any device in your home or office, look up the website of the hardware vendor and do a search for the term 'firewall'.

Wi-Fi

Many of the latest computers come with the ability to connect to the internet and other nearby computers without the need for wires or cables, using a wireless connection. Instead of wires or fibre-optic cable, wireless technology uses radio waves to transmit the data in a way similar to a mobile phone or radio.

Because wireless networks do not require a wire between a computer and the internet connection, it is possible for anyone within range to intercept the signal if it is unprotected. This could lead to you exceeding your download limit without knowing why. It can also enable others to access your personal information or to send and receive information on your behalf.

Securing your Wi-Fi

Some easy ways to secure your wireless network include:

• change the default SSID and administration username and password - this is typically done via your router's administration page. Find this by reading the manual or Googling the make/model and 'how to'.

• turn off your SSID broadcast - it is possible to 'hide' your Wireless network except for devices you have manually added. This avoids external users being able to 'see' the network being advertised.

• turn encryption on and use the strongest encryption option available - For home users the highest encryption available at this time is WPA2.

• For more visit https://www.staysmartonline.gov.au/

Safer use of public computers and public Wi-Fi

There are countless public computers offering internet access including computers in libraries, airports and internet cafes. Because these computers are accessible to many people, taking extra precautions to protect personal information and protect against possible virus infection is important.

Remember not to leave a public computer unattended until fully logging out, or save any files or any log-in information public computers. Where a website has an automatic log-in checkbox, it’s a good idea to uncheck it. This helps to prevent others logging in with your identity later. When you’ve finished, clear the history, quit the browser, log out and, if possible, reboot the computer.

If using a public wireless network try to avoid online banking or credit card transactions, and ensure that security software, such as anti-virus and anti-spyware software and a firewall, are installed.

Filtering Your Home Internet

There are various technical measures you can take to manage internet access at home and whilst it can play a role, supervision and education are the best forms of filters.

Filtering systems not only help block out inappropriate websites, but there are also certain features that can do such things as enforce internet cut off times for certain devices. This means you can set an internet 'bed time' for one or more specific devices on your network.

Many of these functions are built into modern Wi-Fi modem/routers through a combination of DNS filtering and/or router based filtering.

DNS Filtering

DNS stands for Domain Name System.

The Domain Name System serves as the phone book for the Internet by translating human-friendly names into numerical IP (Internet Protocol) addresses. For example, the domain name www.example.com translates to the IP address 93.184.216.119.

When you set up DNS filtering on your home router you can filter internet content across everything on your home network. In addition to computers and notebooks, it also includes Xbox, Playstation, Wii, DS, iPad, iPod, iPhone and any internet enabled device.

OpenDNS is a reputable company that provides free services for home use. From their website;

We divide the Internet's millions of websites neatly into 56 categories, like “adult,” “games,” “academic fraud” and “social media.” Parents can block entire categories of content, or just choose to block the individual websites that you know are problematic or unsafe for your family. Or, for easier setup, you can choose a filtering level: low, medium or high. The low filtering level blocks just adult content, where the high filtering level blocks adult content, social networking sites, video-sharing sites and more.

Router based filtering

Using the DNS filtering solution above will apply filtering to all devices on your home Wi-Fi, including those used by parents. Router based filtering is appropriate when you want to filter multiple specific devices in your household with different rules. eg, you can apply stricter filtering or cut-off times to your child's devices whilst leaving your device more open.

Router based filtering also works with devices other than computers, eg, smartphones and tablets. Because devices like tablets do not run Mac or Windows they can be difficult to filter with software solutions.

Most WiFi modem/routers have a degree of built in content management, so you may already have a degree of content control with your existing device. To find out, there are instructions for each model of router in the box or on the internet. Find out by looking up the model number of your device. Current generation Telstra modems that are included in home internet bundles will contain a high level of parental control incorporating both filtering and time scheduling for individual devices. Contact your ISP to help you identify whether your router is capable of content management.

Netgear, Linksys, Draytek and many other brands sold extensively contain inbuilt content management features. If you go to a store like Harvey Norman and ask the sales rep they should be able to provide input.

Netgear offer another option called Live Parental Controls whereby, in conjunction with OpenDNS, they allow you to set up and configure multiple profiles for yourself and your children with different filtering permissions. It's a free service if you purchased a Netgear router.