Hi [FIRSTNAME]

As I have said in my previous mail, on-line security is a huge issue.
This is the second mail in a two part about Internet security.

In the first mail I made a suggestion to the average user:
Cut your risk, your heartache and your cost - don't buy Windows. And for the average computer user that equates to buying a Mac. I'll leave that thought with you.

Here are some tips and facts on staying secure online.

The biggest threat right now is from web-app security; applications that you use online. Your website, your cellphone, Facebook, the stock software you use, online games, etc, etc. And the threat is biggest with any application that you have to log-in to use.
Internet crime, fraud and ID theft accounts for a US$ 560 million annual loss in the US alone.
Cybercrime revenues are now on the same as the drug trade!
In 2009 11.1 million US adults became victims of identity fraud.

OWASP gives a very comprehensive list of threats.

Social or Business Networks

Social networking makes attacks so much easier. It's amazing how much info we leave lying around. Don't assume that other people are cautious with your private information. In fact many governments are funding corporate espionage.

• Make sure that you use the privacy settings in communities that you join.
• Limit the amount of logins that you have and don't keep telling everyone on Facebook and Twitter exactly where you are and what you are doing and for whom you work.
• Choose good passwords. L33t is a good password resource.
• Keep a written / printed record of your logins, passwords etc. And keep it secure! It should not leave your house until you die.
• Secure your password records on your computer, don't leave them lying around the desktop; and don't put them in a folder called "Passwords"!

Junk Mail

Your junk mail settings are there for your protection, learn how to setup your junk mail folder so that it eliminates (and deletes) malicious mails, and that it doesn't delete legitimate mails.
This is not a task for someone else, it is your computer you need to secure it.

Junk mail folders take a bit of time to get used to and to learn your preferences, but they help a lot to reduce SPAM and malicious e-mails.

But there are also things you can do with your e-mail host company to prevent spam from even reaching you.

• Speak to your host company about the mail filter settings. If you are being targeted by spam or mal-ware mails they can probably change the settings at the server level to eliminate these.
• It's a good idea anyway to be aware what your host filtering settings are.
• While we're on the topic, please use a good host company. You may have a cousin who just bought a web server and can host for 50c a month, but do you want to go through the hacking learning curve with him?
  Rather use a bigger hosting company with dedicated security staff and established security principles who guarantee software upgrades.
• If an e-mail asks you to enter your user-name and password into a website be skeptical.
  As a rule do not use an e-mail link to login to a website unless you expected the e-mail to come.

Backup

Backup regularly, but not too regularly. Sometimes viruses take a few days to manifest, you want to be able to get back to a clean backup once you have cleaned your system. I do a back up twice a week. Apple's Time Machine is a great backup option, and you may want to consider having an online space to backup more important documents.
Setting up a computer with all the preferences and links you had previously is a job you don't want to tackle without a working backup.

Keep your software up to date!

Download the patches, Mac's have software patches also. Upgrade your web applications. The general rule is that if you are more than 2 versions behind then you are probably vulnerable to attack.

Very important, if an Internet browser pop-up window tells you that your computer is unsafe and gives you a "click here" button to "upgrade your security software" it is almost certainly a virus! Leave it alone. Make a mental note of the website you were looking at when the window popped up and don't ever go to it again, black-mark it in your browser if you can.

Browsers safety

Google's Chrome and Opera are pretty safe browsers, Safari is also good, Firefox has some security issues but I don't think anyone should be using Internet Explorer; Or Outlook for that matter! Especially since all these browsers and most e-mail applications are free. Get a good browser, most of them will import your settings from IE.

• Be careful with browser tabs. Keeping a logged-in browser tab open may allow the other websites you are using to see what you are doing in the logged-in tab. 
• Set a master password on your browser.
• I use multiple browsers, I keep my social media open on a browser (Safari) where I have security on high and all my traceables turned off. I run all my apps and secure info logins in Firefox.

Now that I have frightened the living daylights out of you, I also want to tell you not to over react. There is a lot of security product available that create more problems than they solve. If you are going to load security software, load one only; make sure it's a good one, and keep it updated.

If you have any specific concerns or questions you are welcome to mail me, I may not have all the answers but I'll help where I can.

We're all vulnerable but there are measures you can take. It is worth the time and investment.
Stay Safe!

God Bless

Alan

USA
O 253 549 2229
C 253 590 8163

SA - Dino Minuzzo
E - dino@accessdigital.co.za
C 082 446 8233