These tips were written by Joe Stewart, director of malware research for Dell SecureWorks and sent to me for reader observation.
I trust that this interests you and will be helpful.
Shop safe online for the
holidays
What could be more up your tech-savvy alley
than doing your holiday shopping online this Cyber Monday? Ensure you have a
safe and secure online shopping experience with tips from Joe Stewart, director
of malware research for Dell SecureWorks.
- Make sure your computer’s anti-virus and malware
detection software is patched and up to date. Also, keep your browser and browser plug-ins (document
viewers, music and video players and rich content applications), patched and up
to date.
- Type the web address of your favorite shopping websites
into your browser. “Online
ads and emails may direct you to bogus sites designed by cyber criminals to
extract personal information.”
- When making online purchases, look for HTTPS in the URL
window. The extra “S” after
HTTP lets you know the website provides a layer of security.
- Watch for websites, online ads or unsolicited emails
with free offers or big discounts. “Also, be sure NOT to click on the links or
attachments, which could infect your computer with malicious
software.”
- Make online purchases using a credit card with a small credit limit. This limits your potential exposure.
- Be wary of holiday greetings, news and pictures, with
links or attachments. Verify
first that the correspondent sent you the email. “Your friends could have had their email address
book hijacked by hackers.”
- Never respond to emails from your bank or any financial
institution that ask for updated information. “Financial institutions rarely ask customers to update
information via email, and they never ask you to disclose sensitive information
via email.”
- Avoid using weak or default passwords for any online
site. Use a different
password for each site; store your passwords securely and auto-generate new,
strong passwords with a passport management tool like LastPass or
KeePass.
- When possible, use a computer dedicated solely for accessing financial accounts, online purchases and paying bills. “This computer should not be used for surfing the Web or for emailing, the primary vectors for infecting your computer.”
- If possible, it is recommended that users not
jailbreak their device and avoid using third-party app
stores.
No comments:
Post a Comment
Note: Only a member of this blog may post a comment.