July 7, 2010

Dangerous Tech Habits.

Dangerous Tech Habits.

Who would think that something as simple as texting would be a dangerous tech habit? Or uploading a photo? It may be a bit on the overly cautious side, but it’s true.

The relative ease with which we can make our daily life public is great. Thirty years ago we were still relying on long-distance phone calls and snail mail to keep in contact with friends and family, but now we’ve got gadgets and gizmos galore to help us out. Video conferencing, cell phone family plans, and photo sharing sites keep us in constant contact. Traditional long distance phone calls are becoming more a thing of the past and Internet-enabled devices are giving us more ways to connect.

The only down side is that no one is teaching us how to use these things safely. How do we know how far we should go? How much is too much? How can we keep our private information private while still exploring the web? These are questions you usually have to answer yourself. But we’ve come up with some quick tips on things to look out for when you’re out there.

  • Texting while driving:

    I almost feel silly writing this, but the fact is that plenty of people still haven’t figured out that texting while driving is crazy-dangerous. It’s so dangerous, in fact, that many cities are outlawing texting while driving. Pull over or wait until you are parked to send or read a message and keep yourself (and the others around you) safe while on the road.

  • Opening unexpected email attachments:

    It happens to the best of us, but this is particularly important if you like keeping your PC virus-free. Don’t open emails from anyone you don’t know, and only open/save/view files from friends when you know you’re expecting something.

  • Public geolocation announcements:

    Foursquare sure is fun, especially when you’re mayor of a location or you get a new badge. So is geotagging your pictures and putting them on Flickr for grandma to see. But be careful when you’re doing these things because if you have geotagging enabled, anyone who has access to your geo-aware services or websites may be able to see the location of your home, school, or office. That may be fine if you only allow friends and family access, but if you leave it open for everyone you may be giving more details than you mean to do. And the last thing you want is an unwelcome visitor coming over.

  • No backups:

    If you aren’t backing up your important files (taxes, family photos, legal documents, etc.) then you’re asking for trouble. DVD burners and external hard drives are pretty reasonably priced, so there’s no real excuse for it unless you like the danger of flirting with disaster.

  • Easy passwords:

    If you haven’t read our post “12 Tips for Making a Good Password.“, do it now. I’ll wait. Did you read it? Good. Now go change all of your passwords.

Image courtesy of http://www.flickr.com/photos/xtrah/ / CC BY-ND 2.0

If you're looking for great anti-virus software that won't break the bank, try StopSign. You don't pay extra for tech support for difficult malware, and our web protection software just works. Download & install StopSign to find out why our members choose us over the other options.

Filed Under: Blog Tagged With: , ,
July 1, 2010

Internet Facts (Take Them with a Grain of Salt)

Internet Facts (Take Them with a Grain of Salt)

The best thing about the Internet is that anyone can write anything on any topic and be heard around the world at the click of a button. Of course, that’s arguably also the worst thing about the Internet. 🙂

The “Wild West” nature of the web can make it challenging to find unbiased information on a variety of subjects. Your friends on Twitter say one thing, Facebook friends maybe another. And that guy on that forum? He thinks they’re both wacky. Add a few Google searches on top of it and who knows what to think?! That’s the Internet, for better or for worse. But at least we’ve got options, right?

If you’re having problems navigating through your research online, try a few of these ideas. They just might help you uncover a treasure trove of information.

  • Use multiple sources:

    Don’t put all of your eggs in one basket by only reading one website for information. Find 2, 3, maybe even 20 sources… whatever it takes to get as many angles as possible. From there you can make up your own mind based on everything you read.

  • Do offline research:

    Newspapers, trade magazines, encyclopedias; sometimes in our digital world we forget that reference books and periodicals exist. (Or dare we say, the library!) They may seem like a a dying breed, but you can still find them all around your town, and they’ve got lots of information you can use. And most of the time they’ve been edited, unlike the Internet. (Haha)

  • Ask an expert:

    Local colleges, professional organizations, and government offices usually have an information desk of some kind. If you’re looking for information on something in a particular field, see if you can find a human expert who will help you out, or at least point you in the right direction. It’s better than going it alone.

Image courtesy of http://www.flickr.com/photos/stlbites/ / CC BY-ND 2.0

If you're looking for great anti-virus software that won't break the bank, try StopSign. You don't pay extra for tech support for difficult malware, and our web protection software just works. Download & install StopSign to find out why our members choose us over the other options.

Filed Under: Blog Tagged With: , , , , ,
June 10, 2010

Stop Attracting Viruses and Malware.

Stop Attracting Viruses and Malware.

Keeping your computer virus-free shouldn’t be difficult, but it is. There’s so much to do and see on the Internet that it’s easy to get complacent about Internet security and open yourself up to computer viruses and malware. And nobody wants that.

But the good news is that you can avoid the hassle of viruses, malware, etc. by changing some bad habits. Take the tips we’ve come up with to heart and you’ll be on the road to keeping your PC free from the threat of viruses and malware.

  1. Stop checking out those sites:

    You know which ones I’m talking about. The ones you don’t want Grandma seeing in your browser history (as if granny looks at that anyhow). I’m not going to name any names, but if there’s anyone who has access to your computer who’s visiting those sites on a regular basis, limiting access to those sites will go a long way in keeping your PC virus-free. Those sites are usually full of malware, drive-by downloads, and popups galore; a virtual malware minefield.

  2. Stop opening those attachments:

    If you’re not expecting a picture or a PDF, be wary of any that find their way to your email inbox. Hackers love to slip their viruses and malware into email attachments because they know they’re going to get clicked. And if they’re clicked, they’re getting their bad stuff installed. Scrutinize every email attachment and don’t click on it, download it, or even preview it until you’re sure it’s from a reliable source.

  3. Stop sharing passwords:

    Err on the side of caution and treat your passwords like they’re your Social Security number. (And why would you give that out to just anybody?) Keep your passwords as safe as you would your Social Security number and you’ll instantly decrease the chances of anyone else getting onto your computer or accounts and accidentally putting spyware or other nastiness on your machine.

  4. Stop surfing without protection:

    There’s a reason that the Internet security industry is around: Because anti-virus and anti-malware products help keep (or get) your computer clear of infections. Using a computer without some kind of protection is just a bad idea. Download StopSign Internet Security software to keep safe.

If you can keep those tips in mind and make them your new habits, you’ll be well ahead of the pack when it comes to keeping your computer virus and malware-free.

Image courtesy of http://www.flickr.com/photos/labyrinthx/ / CC BY-SA 2.0

If you're looking for great anti-virus software that won't break the bank, try StopSign. You don't pay extra for tech support for difficult malware, and our web protection software just works. Download & install StopSign to find out why our members choose us over the other options.

Filed Under: Blog Tagged With: , ,
June 3, 2010

Six Online Safety Tips for Kids and Parents.

Six Online Safety Tips for Kids and Parents.

For most kids summer vacation is fast approaching, so now is a great time to talk about online safety with them. More time at home means more time on the computer for many, and whether or not you’ve had a talk about online safety with them before, it’s never a bad thing to cover the ground rules of staying safe on the Internet.

We’re not suggesting you suffocate kids with rules; just teach them that with a few common sense tips they’ll stay out of trouble. (Not to mention keep their Internet privileges intact) If you don’t know where to start with a talk about online safety, give these six tips a try:

  1. Talk to your kids about expectations:

    Every household is different with regard to what is acceptable to view online and what isn’t. Be sure to let your kids know what the rules are so they can make good decisions. Online safety starts at home with a talk.

  2. Educate yourself & your kids:

    Every generation has their own slang. You had it, I had it, your kids have it and there’s definitely a new way of talking when it comes to texting on cell phones or chatting on the Internet. Go to places like Urban Dictionary or our blog post on common cell phone & texting acronyms if you see something you don’t get, daddy-o. Can ya dig it?

  3. No F2F or IRL meetings with strangers:

    There’s your first 2 definitions: F2F means Face to Face and IRL means In Real Life. If talking with strangers online is bad, setting up a meeting with them is even worse! Be clear with your kids: no one will be arranging to meet anyone, child or adult, who they don’t know already. Classmates, neighborhood friends, Cousin Tommy from Portland… they’re probably OK. But not UltraSuperHotGirl1954 (any similarities with a real username is purely coincidental & unintended) from that one website, who is probably a 56 year old dude looking for trouble.

  4. Limit time on the Internet:

    It’s summer time and the livin’s easy! Encourage your kids to step away from the computer and work on a real tan outside (with sunscreen, of course) instead of a monitor tan inside. Get them involved in a summer sport, take them hiking, or just get them out mowing the lawn. Whatever it is they do outside, fresh air = good and all day on the computer = bad.

  5. Check out your kids social profiles:

    Don’t be afraid to get up in their business. It’s your responsibility to make sure that they’re not getting themselves into trouble. (Whether they know it or not) Keeping tabs on who they’re talking to and what they’re up to isn’t snooping, it’s good parenting and an integral part of your kids online safety.

  6. Personal info stays private:

    So much of your kids online safety is in their hands every time they type. Where they live, their email address, the name of their school: these are all things an online predator can use against them. Teach them that any personally identifiable information is an online safety no-no.

Having a fun, safe summer is easy; it just takes a little nudge in the right direction from a loving hand. Enjoy your summer!

Image courtesy of http://www.flickr.com/photos/stawarz/ / CC BY-ND 2.0

If you're looking for great anti-virus software that won't break the bank, try StopSign. You don't pay extra for tech support for difficult malware, and our web protection software just works. Download & install StopSign to find out why our members choose us over the other options.

Filed Under: Blog Tagged With:
May 26, 2010

The Most Dangerous Threat to Your (Internet) Security.

The Most Dangerous Threat to Your (Internet) Security.

There’s a threat lurking on your computer right now. A presence so fraught with security holes that to expose it to any malicious element on the Internet would likely result in things such as identity theft, spyware, hacked accounts, and worse. What’s this problem? The problem, my friend, is you.

“Only amateurs attack machines; professionals target people.” Bruce Schneier (computer security expert)

So you’re a danger to yourself and others around you when it comes to Internet security… don’t feel bad. We’re all guilty of it. As humans, we’re notoriously good at being bad: we forget to pick up the milk even though our significant other reminded us, we skip a meal and eat way too much later that night, and we certainly get complacent when it comes to Internet security. And that last thing, that’s what we’re talking about. You can deal with your SO and your doctor on those first two. 🙂

We’ve talked about social engineering before, which is an easy way for hackers and phishers to get information out of you. Instead of breaking into your computer they attempt to break into you, using emails, instant messages, and in some cases even phones or talking to you in real life (both of which are much more rare, but still possible). Once they have gained your trust they begin to break down walls and get at what they really want: your sensitive information. Passwords, account numbers, access codes… anything they can get their hands on that might prove valuable.

In order to stop these people from breaking into your life, you have to train yourself to jog your brain out of complacency when it comes to Internet security. Three of the easiest ways to lock out the bad guys are:

  1. Strong passwords:

    Maybe we’re sounding like a broken record here, but a good password is one of the easiest, and best, deterrents to attacks ranging from account privacy to identity theft. Build yourself a better password.

  2. Trust but verify:

    We’re not suggesting that you live your Internet life in a bubble, just use the same precautions you’d use in the real world. Use some of the tips we wrote in our blog post “5 Simple Tips to Staying Secure Online” and that should cover your bases.

  3. Lock down accounts:

    Your privacy is one of your most important assets online. For every service you use, from your bank to Facebook, make sure that you understand how their security and privacy policies affect you and lock down information such as your physical address and home phone number so that only people you want contacting you can do so.

Reducing the amount of information publicly available about you and keeping up with a few easy Internet security tips will go a long way to keeping you safe… from yourself. 🙂

Image courtesy of http://www.flickr.com/photos/johntolson/ / CC BY-ND 2.0

If you're looking for great anti-virus software that won't break the bank, try StopSign. You don't pay extra for tech support for difficult malware, and our web protection software just works. Download & install StopSign to find out why our members choose us over the other options.

Filed Under: Blog Tagged With: , , , , , ,
« Previous Page
Next Page »