Category Archives: Safe Surfing

Internet, Keep Safe Online, Phishing Scams, Safe Surfing, Scam, Security, Virus and Malware Descriptions

10 Ways to Stay Safe Online

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Today’s post could be titled ‘The Ten Commandments of Staying Safe Online’ but we didn’t want to confuse people who were googling for the real ten commandments. Staying safe online is based on common sense, there’s no rocket science about it. Use your head and you’ll be safe. If something happens, we’re always ready to help.

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Ten Safety Tips

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

1. Don’t click on email attachments. 

We dealt with attachments earlier this week, explaining what they are and how to avoid getting tricked by a malicious one. Even if the email is from someone you know, double check with them before opening anything that’s attached to an email.

2. Don’t click on links in the body of unknown or suspicious emails. 

Credit card companies and banks DO NOT send emails with links in the body of the email, at least not the ones that we deal with. If you get regular mailings from companies who are sending you updates on merchandise or sales they are having, fine. If you don’t deal with the company that sent the email, don’t click on anything inside it. Even if the email is from a friend, be suspicious. Some friends send or forward all kinds of things, right? Laugh at this, chuckle at that, you know the type. What are you going to miss if you don’t click on the link? Nothing. We can’t think of any reason why you should click on a link anyway. It’s not worth the risk.

3. Use and maintain a good anti-virus program. 

We told you about several free AV programs this week so make sure you’re protected. Lack of money is no excuse. If you’re go online without the protection of AV software, you’re pretty much begging for trouble.

4. Use Google Chrome. 

Not only is Chrome fast, it also updates itself every time you start it and it has a built-in protection from malware sites. If you use Internet Explorer from Microsoft, well, you’re on your own there.

5. Don’t think the Macs are safe from viruses and malware. 

They aren’t. Apple is just as big of a target as Microsoft. Thousands of people around the world are busy 100% of the time trying to find holes in Windows. iOS and all of the software that goes with them.

6. Don’t use torrents to download movies or software. 

Not only is it illegal but it’s also dangerous. Unless your AV software is completely up-to-date, a virus attached to a file that you’ve downloaded can wreck your computer and/or your identity in seconds. Steer clear of torrents!

7. Only download software from trusted sites.

This applies to apps that you get for your mobile devices, too. The software that we mention here is almost always free and we provide direct links to the home page of the people who create the apps. Tucows, a site that’s been around for years, is safe while sourceforge, a site that’s also been around for years, isn’t safe. Sourceforge now adds other software during the installation process while Tucows doesn’t. The added software is usually some kind of toolbar or adware that changes your browser settings completely. If in doubt, ask us first.

8. Don’t share flash drives. If you do, make sure you scan the drive with your AV software before you transfer any files. 

Flash drives are wonderfully handy, aren’t they? If you use them on your own computers, you’re probably quite safe. If you lend them out to your kids or friends, scan the drive before you use any of the files on it. If your children have used a drive on a computer at their school, double and triple check it with your AV software. You’ve been warned.

9. Don’t sign in to your email, Facebook or other social media account just because something asks you to do so. 

If you type in ‘facebook.com’ and then sign in to your account, that’s one thing. Typing your email and password into a pop-up window is something else. There is a good chance that something has hijacked your browser if you get these kind of pop-ups. Don’t be tricked. Always enter the website address yourself. If you happen to accidentally sign in using a pop-up window, close the window, close your browser, open it again and type in the site url yourself. Sign in and immediately change your password.

10. Don’t upgrade your flash player from any website that tells you to. 

That’s why we advise you to use Chrome. Chrome updates its flash component automatically, you cannot do it yourself. If you are on a video site, other than Youtube we mean, and something pops up to tell you that your ‘flash player’ is out of date, don’t believe it. Chrome can play any video from any site on the Internet. You do not need anything else on any site that we’ve seen yet. If you’re using Chrome, your flash player/software is always up to date.

There are many more tips and tricks for keeping safe online but if you remember these ten, you’re well on your way to smooth cruising on the Internet. For more tips and tricks, Like us on Facebook. Here’s the link:

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Thanks for reading!

Internet, Keep Safe Online, Safe Surfing, Security

Stay Safe Online – Avoid being bullied/stalked/blackmailed

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Here in Canada, we’ve all been shocked by the story of a 15 year old girl who committed suicide after being bullied at her high school as well as being blackmailed online. When this girl was 12, she made a mistake while using her webcam with a man and paid for that mistake for three years, until her suicide in October of 2012. We will not publish this girl’s name but you can search for her incredibly touching video on Youtube. Here are some tips to stay safe online, most of these apply to girls but parents should take note of these tips, as well.

1. As we told you in our Facebook posts, anything you do online can be traced back to you. If you make a mistake, there is no delete button that will make it all better. Before you do something that you wouldn’t normally do, something that might go against your parent’s normal sense of decency, think about it before you do it. Is it worth ruining your immediate future for a silly, seemingly harmless moment online?

2. Recording your webcam sessions is much easier than you might think. Read this post and see if you don’t agree: Video Screen Capture Using CamStudio  CamStudio is free and very easy to use. It records both video and sound. When someone is recording your webcam feed, there is no way that you will know it. Remember that. There is no notification that you are being recorded.

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It’s very easy to capture video and sound using CamStudio.

 

3. If you are chatting with someone, how do you know that this person is who they say they are? If you are webcamming with someone, how do you know that the person on the screen is real? Well, as far as chatting goes, have them send you an email. Using our guide, here is the link: Email Detective: Is your email buddy really who they say there are?  , you can figure out if they are where they pretend to be.

If you are using your webcam, and you should only use your webcam if the other person also uses theirs, have them wave at you or, better yet, have them hold up a piece of paper with your name on it. Many unscrupulous people play a recorded video to make you think that the person you see is real. They will often stop the video suddenly or say that their camera is broken. Make a rule for yourself: No webcam without a real person on the other screen.

4. Remember that screen captures work two ways. While someone can record you, you can also record them. This way, should something bad happen, then you have proof of who you were chatting with.

5. If you are on a chat site and you’re feeling a little frisky, don’t show your face. Don’t have anything in the background that people can trace back to you. Wear a mask, if you get carried away. Don’t listen to the people who ask you to show your face, show your this or that. They are the ones who are recording you, most likely. Whole websites have been built up around these videos that they record so don’t play into their game. Common sense will keep you out of trouble.

6. If you use sites such as Stickam or Chatroulette, don’t get tricked into showing anything that you wouldn’t show on the street or while your parents are watching. These sites can be fun but don’t do anything on them that you wouldn’t do normally. Just be yourself and have clean, safe fun.

7. Lastly, don’t get drunk and do crazy things online. Not only will you regret it the next day, one of those things may very well come back to haunt you. One silly flash online could change your whole life. Have fun with your friends, stay away from strangers until you get to know them, and keep your wits about you. If someone seems too forceful or belligerent, block them.

Computers Made Simple advocates safe and fun computing. All of the chat tools are both educational and entertaining but they can be dangerous, too. Young people think they know everything. We know that we felt the same way back in our teens. If you’re concerned about what your children do online, talk to them about it. Let them know that you know about sites like Stickam, Chatroullette and others. If you don’t know, check them out. You’d be very surprised about what goes on there. You don’t have to sneak around behind your kid’s backs, just talk to them openly. Sugar gets better results than salt, right?

Thanks for reading! Comments, questions, opinions are welcome.