Computer and internet security is important because online activities create data about users that could be compromised. It is easy to stay safe by securing data with strong passwords, keeping private information private by being aware of sharing, preventing attacks using antivirus software, and preparing for potential issues by backing up important files. The document provides tips for creating strong and unique passwords, maintaining privacy online, protecting against viruses and malware, and backing up data to secure information.

1. Computer / Internet Security
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www.westhavenlibrary.org

2. Computer / Internet Security
• Use of internet services are unavoidable
▫ Job applications, school
applications, taxes, credit, banking, DMV
forms, personal communication (email), social
networking
(facebook), shopping, research, entertainment
• All parts of your life potentially have an online
counterpart

3. Computer / Internet Security
• Everything you do online…
▫ Every account you make
▫ Every purchase
▫ Every job application
• Creates data about you

4. Computer / Internet Security
• Not always a bad thing… BUT
▫ Danger in losing control of your data (accounts)
▫ Danger in over sharing
▫ Danger in important data being destroyed
(photos, records, documents)

5. Good News
It’s easy to stay safe and protect yourself

6. Computer / Internet Security
Goals
• Secure your data
• Keep what’s private
PRIVATE
• Prevent attack/ intrusion
• Prepare for the worst,
prevent loss

7. Computer / Internet Security
Goals Action
• Secure your data • Use better password practices
• Keep what’s private PRIVATE • Be aware of what/how you
share
• Prevent attack/ intrusion • Be proactive- use protective
software- be vigilant
• Prepare for the worst, prevent • BACKUP, BACKUP, BACKUP
loss

8. Data?
• Your data is anything on your computer or
information stored in online accounts
▫ Documents, files, photos
▫ Online shopping sites
▫ Banking, credit card
▫ Social networking profiles
• Data that you own/control
• Private (banking info)
• Public (online profiles)

9. Why bother?
• Whether public (online profiles) or private
(financial info) you need to stay in control
• Ensure that only authorized people can access
your data, accounts, files
Web-based accounts and services are increasingly
important

10. Dangers
• Breaches can come from
▫ Leaked/ stolen data
 Leaked by a company or organization
 Stolen via virus on a computer you use
▫ Targeted attacks
▫ Automated attacks- cracks

11. Dangers
• Virus, Malware, Spyware, Adware, Trojans
▫ Software created to steal information, change
settings, destroy files, take control of your system
▫ Most commonly contracted online unbeknownst
to the user
 Email attachments, malicious websites, software
downloads, toolbars

12. Secure Your Data
• Biggest step is use better password
practices
▫ more difficult to guess
▫ Harder to crack (longer in length)
▫ Make it easier to deal with if username/passwords
are leaked

13. Better Passwords
• Don't use passwords that are based on personal
information that can be easily accessed or
guessed.
▫ It may be easier than you think to guess your pet’s
name, birthday, child’s name, favorite
color, mother’s maiden name, etc.
▫ “password” “love” are extremely common and
easily guessed

14. 25 Worst Passwords of 2011
1. password 14. master
2. 123456 15. sunshine
3.12345678 16. ashley
4. qwerty 17. bailey
5. abc123 18. passw0rd
6. monkey 19. shadow
7. 1234567 20. 123123
8. letmein 21. 654321
9. trustno1 22. superman
10. dragon 23. qazwsx
11. baseball 24. michael
12. 111111 25. football
13. iloveyou
http://mashable.com/2011/11/17/worst-internet-
passwords/

15. Better Passwords
• Don't use words that can be found in any
dictionary of any language.
▫ A single word, spelled correctly, is easy to check
against a dictionary
▫ Single words are also short, easy to break using
random guesses.

16. Stronger Passwords
• Use both lowercase and capital letters.
• Use a combination of letters, numbers, and
special characters.
▫ Maine96knees@MtSnow
• Develop a mnemonic for remembering complex
passwords.

17. Stronger Passwords
• Use passphrases when you can.
▫ Longer in length- harder to guess/ crack
▫ Easier to remember
▫ puppytograndmasforsummervacation

18. Stronger Passwords
• Use different passwords on different systems
▫ If you use the same password at one site that is
broken into- then attackers can access your data at
other sites using that same username/password.

19. Use different
passwords on
different systems

20. Keep what’s private PRIVATE
• Be aware of what you share
• When creating an account consider who you are
giving your data to
• Any site asking for banking, social security, or
login information for a different site should be
closely examined.

21. Keep what’s private PRIVATE
• When creating accounts consider what you are
entering and how it will be used
• You decide your comfort level with what you
share

22. Email
• Email is more like a postcard than a letter
• Chances are no one other than the recipient will
see it BUT it is possible for others see its content
along the way (just like a postcard)
• Do not email: credit card #, logins/passwords

23. Web Addresses- URL

24. URL (Uniform Resource Locator)
The address that connects you with a website.
Parts of the URL
http://www.google.com
http:// = protocol [Hypertext Transfer Protocol]
www. = World Wide Web
google = domain name
.com = domain type
Domain Types
.com = commercial
.org = generally nonprofit organizations
.edu = higher education
.gov = U.S. government agency

25. Browsing the Web- Secure Sites
• Any site asking for sensitive info should be
encrypted (Banks, Insurance, etc.)
• Encrypted site addresses begin with
▫ https://www.google.com- ENCRYPTED
▫ http://www.google.com- NOT encrypted

26. Browsing the Web- Secure Sites

27. Browsing the Web
• As you browse the web- websites collect info
about you
• Your web browser keeps a history and collects
cookies from websites
• Use your browser settings to:
▫ Clear your browser cache/history/cookies
▫ Limit 3rd party cookies

29. Keep what’s private PRIVATE
• If you have WiFi at home, set a password
▫ Keep your neighbors off your network (unless you
want them there)
▫ Refer to the directions that came with your
Router/Modem/Wifi

30. Prevent attack/ intrusion
• A Virus will get in through an open door or you
unwillingly open the door yourself

31. Anti-Virus
• A program that scans your files and actively
monitors to prevent infection
• Once installed, anti-virus monitors for virus
activity, quarantines, and deletes
• Be sure to frequently run the virus scan
• Be sure that “definitions” are updated

32. Anti-Virus
• Free
▫ AVG
▫ Avast
▫ Microsoft Security Essentials
 www.windows.microsoft.com/mse
• Commercial
▫ McAffee
▫ Symantec Norton
▫ Bit Defender

33. Prevent attack/ intrusion
• Be vigilant
• Don’t download email attachments that you
don’t trust
• If something from someone you trust looks
suspicious check with them before opening

34. Prevent attack/ intrusion
• Scareware
▫ Virus/Malware that looks like an anti-virus
program
▫ Popup while browsing the web
• Know what Anti-virus you have and how to use it

35. Fake Anti-Virus Warning

36. Prepare for the worst
• Backup your important files
▫ Keep duplicate copies
• Worst case scenario: you will still have what’s
important to you
• Keep your backup current

37. Prepare for the worst
• Backup files locally
▫ Copy to cdr
▫ Flash drive
▫ external hard drive
• Paper copies
▫ tax returns
▫ Important photos

38. Prepare for the worst
• Cloud storage- files copied to a secure site over
the internet
▫ Be sure that service is reputable, safe, stable
▫ Backup regularly

39. Resources
• http://www.us-cert.gov/cas/tips/
• http://www.ftc.gov/bcp/edu/microsites/onguard/
westhavenlibrary.org
David Cirella- dcirella@westhavenlibrary.org, 2012-03-01