Security and Internet risks

Security and Internet risks.

Inappropriate use of the Internet

All risks come from not preventing or knowing the consequences of the use inappropriate of the Internet. Dangerous or malicious content on the Internet is too accessible for avoid taking any precautions. Our identity, privacy are put at risk.

Harmful content: content which, whether or not it is legal, negatively affects minors. We are referring to websites that talk about violence, xenophobia, eating disorders, drugs, hate speech, etc.
Imprecise content: with poor quality information, but which can be misinterpreted. De-contextualised or biased with the intention of influencing opinion. Intentionally fabricated in order to mislead and manipulate. Untruthful sources, errors... These are hoaxes and fake news
Contacts: people who cause suffering through the Net. Grooming and cyberbullying are two clear examples.
Fraudulent commerce: pages with flash offers, deliveries that have nothing in common with reality, betting and gambling.
Harmful malware and cybercrime. Through different malware techniques such as viruses, trojans and worms, criminals use networks to commit this type of crime. The most common are spyware, phishing sites, identity theft, account hijacking, plagiarism and account theft.
Loss of privacy. Your privacy is exposed to sexual predators, burglars and thieves.
Health risks: Related to the abusive use of the Internet: they can cause physical consequences (visual and musculoskeletal problems and sometimes obesity due to a sedentary lifestyle) and psychological consequences (isolation), and even addiction. Acquiring addictions such as depression, nomophobia, gambling and distortion of reality.

Precautions and measures.

1. Post personal information in a limited and professional manner.

You would not provide purely personal information to individual strangers, so do not provide it to millions of people online.

2. Keep your privacy settings turned on

Marketers love to know everything about you, and so do hackers. Both can learn a lot from your browsing habits and social media usage. But you can take control of your information. There are settings to protect your online privacy. Major websites, such as Facebook, also have privacy-enhancing settings available. These settings are sometimes (deliberately) hard to find, because companies want your personal information for its marketing value. Make sure you have activated these privacy safeguards and keep them activated.

3. Practice safe surfing

You wouldn't choose to walk through a dangerous neighbourhood, so don't visit dangerous neighbourhoods online. Where one careless click could expose personal data or infect your device with malware. By resisting the urge, hackers won't stand a chance.

4. Make sure your internet connection is secure

When you connect online in a public place, for example by using a public Wi-Fi connection is bad idea. A man-in-the-middle attack is a type of eavesdropping attack, where attackers interrupt an existing conversation or data transfer. After inserting themselves in the "middle" of the transfer, the attackers pretend to be both legitimate participants. This enables an attacker to intercept information and data from either party while also sending malicious links or other information to both legitimate participants in a way that might not be detected until it is too late.

5. Be careful what you download

One of the main goals of cybercriminals is to trick you into downloading malware, i.e. programs or applications that include malware or try to steal information. This malware can be disguised as an application -from a popular game to an app that checks traffic or the weather. As PCWorld advises, don't download apps that look suspicious or come from a site you don't trust.

6. Choose strong passwords

Passwords are one of the biggest weaknesses in the whole security structure of the Internet, but there is no way to bypass them these days. And the problem with passwords is that people tend to choose passwords that are easy to remember (such as "password" and "123456"), also easy for cyber thieves to guess. Select strong passwords that are harder for cybercriminals to demystify. Password Manager software can help you manage multiple passwords so you don't forget them. A strong password is one that is unique and complex, at least 13 characters long and includes letters, numbers and special characters.

7. Make online purchases on secure sites

Whenever you make an online purchase, you need to provide credit card or bank account information, which is exactly what cybercriminals most want to get their hands on. Provide this information only to sites that offer secure, encrypted connections. As Boston University points out, you can identify secure sites by looking for an address that begins with https: (the S stands for secure) rather than simply http:. They may also include a padlock icon next to the address bar.

8. Be careful what you post

The Internet does not have a Delete key, Any comment or image you post online may remain online forever, because deleting the original (e.g., from Twitter) does not delete copies that other people may have. There is no way to "delete" a comment you wish you hadn't shared, or get rid of that embarrassing selfie you took at a party. Don't post anything online that you wouldn't want your mother or an employer to see.

9. Be careful who you meet online

The people you meet online are not always who they say they are. In fact, they may not even be real. You are advised to be as cautious and sensible in your online social life as you are in your in-person social life.

10. Keep your anti-virus software up to date

Internet security software cannot protect you against every threat, but it will detect and remove most malware, but you should make sure it is up to date. Make sure you keep up to date with operating system updates and updates to the applications you use. They provide a vital level of security.

Keep these 10 basic rules of Internet security in mind and you can avoid many of the nasty surprises that lurk online for the careless.

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